Radiant Barrier Problems – Why Reflective Insulation Is Flawed

Radiant barrier problems keep homeowners and business owners from saving the money they should. In this post we discuss the most common problems with current radiant barrier technology and Alternative Energy, LLC’s solution to those problems.

Common Problems With Radiant Barrier

The most common problems with radiant barrier are:

• Dust
• Single Sided
• Moisture Potential
• Not Enough Attic Ventilation
• Roof Temperature
• Too Many Options
• Not Enough Savings
• Doesn’t Prevent Radiant Heat Transfer

The first most common problem with radiant barrier is “dust”.

Dust

Dust is a huge problem with radiant barrier technology. Dust prevents reflective insulation from working like it should. As soon as the radiant barrier material is contaminated with dust it loses its reflective potential, letting the sun penetrate your roof and heat up your home or business. We solved this problem with out SRX product.

SRX is a thin reflective material that is more effective at controlling heat flow than radiant barrier. What this means for you is: a cooler attic, air vents that produce cooler air and utility bills with a lower cost. Radiant barrier material only has a resistance to heat (R-Value) but it still retains heat. SRX radiant barrier is rated with E-Value, meaning it resists heat and doesn’t retain it at all.

Read more about our solution to the “Radiant Barrier Dust Problem” here.

Next problem with radiant barrier is “faulty single sided foil”.

Single Sided 

Before a product like SRX was created, single sided radiant barrier material dominated the industry. Some radiant barrier contractors still use single sided material because it’s cheap and easy to install. Single sided radiant barrier is flawed because it’s usually installed in a way that leaves it prone to collect dust. When dust accumulates in large amounts it can diminish its radiant heat reflection potential.

Double sided radiant barrier is a little bit better but still not as good as SRX is at keeping out dust. SRX is only product on the market that is guaranteed to not be affected by dust! Wouldn’t it be nice for a radiant barrier contractor to offer a warranty with their installations? Well now they do, and by they, I mean we! Alternative Energy, LLC is the only radiant barrier contractor that backs up all of their installation with a lifetime money back guarantee.

Read more about “Radiant Barrier Problems” here.

Another common problem with reflective insulation is that there are too many options which confuse consumers.

Moisture Potential

Radiant barrier has the potential to collect moisture during cold weather. When its cold outside, insulation can create moisture on the underside of the radiant barrier foil. This could create problems with your insulation’s effectiveness and create wet spots on your ceiling.

However, this kind of radiant barrier problem is only a concern for areas of the US that have 0 degree temperatures or less. Areas like Arizona or Nevada will never have to worry about moisture on radiant barrier foil.

One tip for preventing moisture on radiant barrier foil is by purchasing perforated radiant barrier foil. You can also seal air leaks or cracks in your ceiling to prevent any other moisture issue.

You will never have to worry about moisture with SRX! SRX is perforated to prevent moisture and is the best insulation for hot or cold climates.

Not Enough Attic Ventilation

For any radiant barrier to work effectively, one must have adequate attic ventilation. Without proper attic ventilation the radiant barrier creates an thermos effect. This makes your attic even hotter than it was without the radiant barrier.

Attic fans are perfect for solving ventilation problems with radiant barrier. With a high powered attic fan you will never have problems with too much heat in your attic. You can go with an electric powered attic fan or choose a solar powered attic fan if you want to save on electricity. However, solar powered attic fans are known for being less powerful and lasting shorter lives than electric powered attic fans.

Roof Temperature Increases

Radiant barrier has the potential to heat up your roof by up to 10 degrees when installed on the underside of your roof. Most radiant barrier contractors use this installation method because it allows for a clean installation. However, with proper attic ventilation, most homeowners won’t ever need to worry about roof temperature increases with radiant barrier. Especially in Arizona where roofs are already up in the 140 degree range.

Alternative Energy, LLC Solution To Roof Temperature Increases: We install radiant barrier on the attic floor and use the highest powered attic fans in the industry to keep your attic only a few degrees higher than the rest of your home.

Too Many Options Problem

One of the biggest problems with radiant barrier is that there are too many options on the market. Homeowners and business owners alike are not sure what R-Value they need, or even what R-Value is to add to that. Should they buy single sided, double sided or some other type of material. It’s just too confusing to make the decision.

That’s why SRX was created as an “all in one” radiant barrier application solution. The inventors of SRX knew that it was hard to decide which type of radiant barrier was the best so they decided to create a product that would take options out of the equation. SRX can be used for any residential, commercial or industrial applications with the same amount of savings!

Read SRX’s “Radiant Barrier Applications” here.

On the other hand, most homeowners and business owners alike complain about not saving as much money on utility bills as they originally expected or were promised by their radiant barrier installer.

Not Enough Savings Problem

Even the best radiant barrier installation only saves you up to 25% on utility costs. Overtime that does add up but as soon as your reflective material gets dusty it is going to stop working. Why invest all that time and money when you’re left with a product that is eventually going to stop.

SRX is guaranteed to save you up to 50% on utility costs. And those savings are for life. Our reflective insulation material never stops working, even if it is completely covered in dust. Some even consider SRX to be the best radiant barrier material in the world. It even has a lower emissivity rating than silver. SRX is the perfect residential or commercial application for blocking out heat and bringing in the savings.

Read the “Radiant Barrier Costs VS Savings Guide” here.

Doesn’t Prevent Radiant Heat Transfer

The biggest problem with most radiant barrier material is that is rated with R-value, which only measures the resistance to convection and conduction. However, most of the energy that is lost in your home is due to emission, also known as radiant heat transfer. Buying a radiant barrier foil that is rated with an E-value is the solution to your problem. E-value is the ability to completely prevent radiant heat transfer and is way more effective than R-value radiant barrier. 

Our SRX is rated with E-value and has the lowest emissivity level in the world, even lower than silver! SRX (SuperReflex) is patented and guaranteed to save you at least 50% on your electricity bill when installed in Arizona. Furthermore, when combined with our other energy saving products can give you savings up to 99% off of your electricity bill with no money down and lower monthly payments than what your currently paying to the utility company. 

Read more about the “Best Radiant Barrier Foil” here. 

Alternative Energy, LLC’s Solution To Radiant Barrier

Alternative Energy, LLC noticed the current problems with radiant barrier technology and decided to do something about it. That’s when SRX came about! SRX stands for SuperReflex, and is the best radiant barrier foil on the market today. It’s patented and comes with a lifetime guarantee to save you at least 50% on utility costs! Read more about SRX “Radiant Barrier” here.

Live in the Phoenix Valley and looking for radiant barrier contractors near you? Ask Alternative Energy, LLC how we can help save you anywhere from 25-99% on electricity with radiant barrier and other revolutionary energy products!