[yellowsnow]

I own an older home, built in the mid 70's. The insulation is woefully inadequate. In the next couple weeks, I am replacing all the windows and doors and I'm going to do 'something' to the attic insulation.

I have 2 options and I don't know which one would give me the most bang for the buck. I could just have more insulation blown in. Or I could have one of those foil radiant barriers put in over the insulation I already have. Sort of like a metal blanket covering the top of the ceiling. In new homes, they put the radiant barrier on the inside of the roof itself but in reinsulating older homes, it's put on over the existing insulation.

What do you think is the better option?

Thanks!

[Spraynard Kruger]

http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/fieldeva...inalReport.pdf

The report I linked to is a comprehensive retrofitting study conducted on a home I would imagine is similar to yours. Very data intense. Hopefully it will help you in some way.

It covers ROI for a number of technologies at the time. The data is a little old but should still be insightful.

[jfkIII]

I'd go for the blow job...seriously. It is my understanding that any foil barrier should be between the living space and the insulation...with air on top of that.

[Buzz123]

I'd go for the blow job too. I had one once, I mean for my attic , and it was the second best thing I did to save on the A/C. The first is digital thermostats.

I've never been convinced that foil reflects heat. It gets hot. Loose material does not. If you've ever used one of those foil thingies for your windshield, you might know what I mean. The foil gets so hot you can't touch it, and it just makes the car hotter inside. But the loose shades I have mounted on either side of the windshield (you pull them toward the middle and they hook together with Velcro) have no solid surface, they are thin, but keep out heat better than anything.

I'm thinking of having insulation blown into the space above my ceilings too, where the pipes are. We have a newer home with all kinds of foil insulation, but in the summer the cold water never gets cold, and in the winter the hot water takes 20 minutes to get hot.

[airics]

i'm wondering about it also... in the winter, it seems my house is always cold (i set it at 69)...and summer, the water out of the faucet is never cold though

[SportyandMisty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRM2SZDu5hU

http://www.koolcoat.com/

http://www.hytechsales.com/index.html

[Relaxo]

Yellowsnow - who did you contact about getting insulation? I'm having a hard time finding recommendations for companies that do this.

Thanks.

[WestieJeff]

Here is an interesting product I saw, a blown in radiant barrier. The company is out of Phoenix:

Radiant Barrier Chips

[crazy_bd]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

I've never been convinced that foil reflects heat. It gets hot. Loose material does not. If you've ever used one of those foil thingies for your windshield, you might know what I mean. The foil gets so hot you can't touch it, and it just makes the car hotter inside.

Not true... Park your car facing the sun, do it for an hour without the reflective screen and for one hour with it. I bet you it is cooler when you use the screen. Sure, the screen gets really hot, but grab onto the steering wheel without using it...

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

I'd go for the blow job too. I had one once, I mean for my attic , and it was the second best thing I did to save on the A/C. The first is digital thermostats.

I've never been convinced that foil reflects heat. It gets hot. Loose material does not. If you've ever used one of those foil thingies for your windshield, you might know what I mean. The foil gets so hot you can't touch it, and it just makes the car hotter inside. But the loose shades I have mounted on either side of the windshield (you pull them toward the middle and they hook together with Velcro) have no solid surface, they are thin, but keep out heat better than anything.

I'm thinking of having insulation blown into the space above my ceilings too, where the pipes are. We have a newer home with all kinds of foil insulation, but in the summer the cold water never gets cold, and in the winter the hot water takes 20 minutes to get hot.

About the water issue..... I had a solar tank put on my roof and I have neverending hot water, even in the Winter, the water in the tank gets enough sun during the day to stay quite warm. The water going in to my hot water heater is already much warmer than what comes out of the cold water faucet.

I think that one was worth the money.