Will adding siding to a home help lower energy bills? That\u2019s an excellent question, which we\u2019re often asked about vinyl siding, and one we\u2019d like to address in this post.<\/p>\n
Homes today are constructed to be energy efficient. This is generally done through the use of different types of insulation, which can be placed in various areas of the home. Typical areas for home insulation include the walls, attic, and more. But what about vinyl siding? Can vinyl siding also act as an insulator?<\/p>\n
The answer depends on the type of vinyl siding used. Before we answer those questions, let\u2019s take a look at insulation and how it works.<\/p>\n
Home insulation works to keep a home warm in the winter and cooler in the summer by creating a thermal barrier. When insulation is added to walls or attics, outside air has difficulty entering the home, while inside air has a more challenging time leaking out.<\/p>\n
When it comes to heating, insulation slows the amount of heat loss of a home. For instance, insulation keeps warm air from inside the home from leaking out in the colder months while keeping cold outside air from entering. The home can maintain a comfortable temperature, and the furnace doesn\u2019t have to work as often to keep the home comfortable.<\/p>\n
In the summer, insulation provides a thermal barrier that keeps hot outside air from entering the home while keeping cool inside air from leaking out. In other words, the air conditioner doesn\u2019t have to work as hard or as often to keep the home comfortably cool.<\/p>\n
Adding insulation is a beneficial method of improving a home\u2019s energy efficiency. According to EnergyCentral, about 35% of energy loss occurs through a home\u2019s walls. That\u2019s an astounding figure, especially when walls are already insulated.<\/p>\n
The EPA also recommends the addition of insulation to make a home more energy efficient. This means lower heating and air conditioning bills.<\/p>\n
But what about vinyl siding? Can vinyl siding provide another layer of insulation for a home?<\/p>\n
The answer is yes; vinyl siding can increase a home\u2019s energy efficiency. However, it depends on the type of vinyl siding used. There are two types of vinyl siding commonly used on homes today. These include non-insulated vinyl siding and insulated vinyl siding.<\/p>\n
Non-insulated vinyl siding does not contain an insulating layer. This type of siding is generally made of two layers\u2014the capstock and substrate. The dual layers can have a slight insulating effect; however, not enough to lower heating and cooling bills.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, insulated vinyl siding contains the same two layers as non-insulated siding, plus an extra layer, which is the insulating material. The insulating material is usually a type of rigid foam on the back of the siding.<\/p>\n
Insulated vinyl siding is standard siding, made with an extra layer of rigid foam insulation. The insulation works to fill the voids behind the siding. It works to fill in and flatten the outside walls of a home. It also creates a thermal barrier, which keeps the home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. When it comes to energy efficiency, the R-value of insulated vinyl siding is approximately between R-2 to R2.7.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, the foam insulation layer makes the siding more rigid, which provides better protection against impact damage (such as baseballs, rocks, large hail, and more). It also makes the siding more warp resistant.<\/p>\n
So, yes, insulated vinyl siding can reduce heating and air conditioning bills.<\/p>\n
Jackson Insulation & Exteriors — Siding Contractor in Barrington<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019re a family-owned business owned by Cliff and Ellen Jackson and our two sons. We\u2019re in our 40th<\/sup> year of business!<\/p>\n We offer only the highest quality insulated vinyl siding and other insulating and exterior products. If you need siding repairs, removal, or require new siding, we have the knowledge and experience to get the job done right.<\/p>\n Contact us today\u2014we\u2019re looking forward to talking with you about your home siding needs!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Siding Contractor in Barrington — Can Vinyl Siding Help Lower Energy Bills? Will adding siding to a home help lower energy bills? That\u2019s an excellent…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":374,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-siding"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\n