How Home Insulation Works
Insulation works by resisting the flow of heat. Heat is a form of energy and always seeks a cooler area—in your home this means it flows outward in winter, and inward in summer. Insulation slows this heat flow, so your heating and cooling system requires less operation to maintain your desired temperature, which saves you money. Home insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways of conserving energy, saving money on heating and cooling bills, and making your home more comfortable.
What does R-value mean?
Insulation’s ability to resist heat flow is identified and labeled by R-value, “R” meaning resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.
Manufacturers of insulation products print the R-values of their products either on bags or on labels attached to plain bags. In most cases, R-values are also printed on the facings of batts and rolls. On unfaced insulation, the R-value is printed on the product. R-value levels the playing field for insulation, allowing consumers to easily make comparisons between products by knowing that R-value is R-value, regardless of insulation type, location or any other variable.