What is the Stack Effect?

During the spring and summer months here in the South, our customer calls about uncomfortably hot room temperatures increase right along with the outside temperatures. It never fails around mid-June each year, the rooms above many property owners’ garages become unbearably warm and stagnant. The second floor of their house continues to rise in temperature no matter what the thermostat is set at.  Their home air conditioner unit simply can’t keep up, and with the increase in their cooling bill, neither can their wallets! 

The Problem Comes from the Top 

It’s a common misconception that insulating the garage or garage ceiling will help better regulate the temperature in the rooms above it, but that’s actually not the case! The area that should really be addressed first is the home’s attic. 

By 10 a.m. on many hot Georgia days, a home’s attic heats up to the point that too much air is being expelled, and not enough fresh air is coming in from the soffits. Oftentimes the soffits are not sized correctly, and as they become clogged with debris through the years, the open soffit vent space is reduced. Even with brand new homes, soffits are typically not balanced properly, and won’t provide the right amount of air flow.

This puts a negative pressure on the entire home and the comfortable cool air that is being pumped within it. Outside air begins to get pulled inside from windows, doors, and other openings, increasing indoor humidity, and sending the  HVAC into overdrive. This phenomenon is called the Stack Effect.

How Better Insulating Your Attic Can Stop the Stack Effect 

By encapsulating your attic with a spray foam solution, you can essentially put a “lid” on your home and effectively stop the Stack Effect, as well as keep excessive moisture, harmful allergens, and property-damaging pests out. Spray foam has an impressively high R-value, or ability to resist heat and block outside air and elements. 

If you have uncomfortably hot rooms in your home half the year, insulating your garage will only help so much. However, encapsulating your attic is what will really move the needle in making your entire home more quiet, clean, and comfortable. When you insulate this space using the highest-quality spray foam, you’re essentially decreasing the loss of air from your home while also improving the air quality inside of it! 

Enjoy the Many Cost-Saving Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation 

Energy Savings

Now your home’s HVAC can run more efficiently, and you’ll see a reduction in your heating and cooling bill  immediately. In fact, according to a recent Department of Energy study, homeowners who installed spray foam insulation saved an average of 20% on their year-round energy costs. 

Longevity

Homeowners are looking for an insulation product that won’t require frequent updating and lots of ongoing maintenance. Spray foam insulation should last throughout the lifespan of a structure, or approximately 80-100 years. It does not lose its shape or ability to resist air and moisture over time, as many common insulation materials do, saving time, money, and frustration for years to come.

Tax Benefit

A new Spray Foam Insulation Tax Credit is effective for products purchased and installed after January 1, 2023. U.S. residential homeowners can claim 30% of product costs, with a maximum credit amount of $1,200. This credit can be combined with other energy efficiency credits, for a total max credit of $3,200 per year. 

When you combine these incentives with the many other benefits of spray foam insulation, the decision to encapsulate your attic with spray foam (and put a stop to the Stack Effect in your home once and for all) is a no-brainer! 

Partner with Epic Spray Foam for All Your Home Insulation Needs

Spray foam is the most energy-efficient and cost-effective insulation product available today, and the most superior option for your home. As a leading insulation contractor in Georgia, Epic Spray Foam is committed to excellent quality, service, and safety. We stand behind our work and will do everything we can to make sure our customers are fully satisfied with their products and services. 

Give us a call at 833-FOAM-GUY to schedule a free assessment of your property today!

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