How to Beat the Maryland Summer Heat

The heat from the hot attic radiates rapidly into the home if insulation is mis-aligned or missing.

Look to building science and a proper assessment to help you make the right improvement choices for home comfort. A new HVAC system is likely not the right solution for a cooler home in summer.

Temperatures in the attics of Maryland homes during summer months can go as high as 150-160 degrees. It is a brutal place with stifling air and high amount of humidity. When an attic is not properly vented, air sealed and insulated the stagnant hot air and pressure in the attic forces excess attic heat through the drywall and other bypasses and slowly, steadily and surely into the house.

Consider this:

Homeowners that have a minimum insulation level in the attic equal to R-19, reflective roof shingles and proper ventilation can experience up to two-thirds less solar heat gain than those with characteristics such as little to no insulation, dark roofing shingles and no attic ventilation.

Summer remedies for Maryland homeowners to enjoy comfort and even temperatures on all floors:

Proper ventilation intake
Proper baffle installation
Proper insulation levels
Proper air sealing
Proper rim joist treatment
Proper crawl space treatment

Healthy Maryland Attic Vs. Unhealthy Maryland Attic

Healthy attic vs. unhealthy attic Maryland climate

Effective Insulation is Two Parts
Regardless of which material and application is used, insulation is not fully effective in Maryland attics and other insulated areas unless it is properly installed and fully aligned with a contiguous air barrier. Insulation works because it incorporates air pockets that resist the flow of heat, or slows the conduction of heat. This resistance to heat flow is measured by the R-value of the material.

Most insulation (with the exception of spray foam and rigid foam board) does not stop air flow. The most cost effective insulation solutions for a house in Maryland requires a separate air barrier or "skin" to stop the flow of air. For the air barrier itself to be effective, it must be contiguous and continuous across the entire building envelope, with all holes and cracks fully sealed, and it must be perfectly aligned with the insulation.

You need both parts of the jacket to make it work the best. The same goes for the insulation around a Maryland house.

Maryland attic insulation and air sealing company

Air Sealing & Insulation Go Hand in Hand for Comfortable Maryland Homes

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Eric Gans
Building Analyst
Envelope Professional

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*Improve home comfort
*Educate you about your home
*Find air leakage in your home
*Improve energy efficiency
*Use science for solutions
*Assess your building's shell
*Help prioritize improvements
*Find the root causes
*Assess insulation levels
*Measure indoor air quality
*Evaluate windows & doors
*Evaluate attic ventilation

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Air sealing and insulating for Maryland summer heat

How to Beat the Maryland Summer Heat

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Helping You!

BGE Approved Energy Contractor
Pepco Approved Energy Contractor