Just moved into a house built in 2001 in Greatwood. My electricity bill was $450 last month and I am looking for ways to cut that down.
I looked in the attic and saw that there is no radiant barrier and not so great looking insulation. The house faces due west so mornings and evening either the back or the front of the house gets full sun. Both the front of the house and the back of the house have HUGE windows and the ones in the back seem to let in a lot of heat. I have plantation shutters in the front and they seem to do ok. The back of the house has nothing. So my questions: Should I put in a radiant barrier and more insulation? Who should I call? Also, is there any type of window film (I’m thinking lightly tinted) that will help with the heat from the windows?
Joe
Tom’s Answer:
Podcast: Play in new window
Tom: Radiant barrier, yes. Simple. Do a radiant barrier…every house needs one. Screens are the most effective way to stop that sunlight from getting in, because it doesn’t allow to pass through the glass first. Your second effective way would be some kind of tinting, and that’s fine too. Some neighborhoods won’t allow you to have screens, so you can do that too. Texan Solar Screens, that we have a sponsor here, they actually will do both. They do tinting, too.
Charlie: Okay, cool.
Tom: It might be an option for you. The plantation shutters, obviously, will do some good, but at that point, the heat’s already entered the house, so it just slows it down some. Radiant barrier…solar screens if you can do it and if you like them. If not, you can look at the tint. If it’s double-paned windows, the tint could crack the glass, and void the warranty on the windows, so you’ve got to be careful what kind you choose.
Charlie: Yeah, and maybe rollup screens might be the answer in some of those rooms.
Tom: Yeah. Still, I like to block it from the outside, first.
Charlie: Keep it from getting in.
Tom: You know? That’s really the most…
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