Understanding Insulation and R-Value | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains R-value and the need for good insulation. (See below for tools and steps.)

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Tom used an infrared camera to visualize the heat loss in the dollhouse, which is manufactured by Fluke [https://www.fluke.com/en-in].

Tom also used fiberglass insulation to demonstrate R-value. Rolls of fiberglass insulation can be found at home centers.

Tools for Understanding Insulation and R-Value:
Tape measure

Steps for Understanding Insulation and R-Value:
1. Tom defines R-value as the resistance of heat transfer through the insulation—meaning, the better the R-value, the less heat is lost.
2. When it comes to R-value and recommendations for your home, a lot depends on where you live.
3.In southern parts of the United States, the recommended R-value for a roof is R-30; for the middle of the country R-38; and farther north, R-49 is strongly recommended, as the climate becomes colder.
4. One way to calculate the R-value of existing insulation is to measure it with a tape measure. Place the tape measure down and touch the ceiling board to get the height. For most insulations, including fiberglass and cellulose, every inch of insulation is roughly equal to an R-value of 3.5.

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Understanding Insulation and R-Value | Ask This Old House
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