Heat retention insulation question

My house is poorly insulated but retains much more heat. Its not uncommon to be 30 or more degrees warmer inside than out without any other heat sourses .The main reason is a south facing enclosed solar porch that generates a tremendous amount of heat. Its easily controlled with a whole house fan if it gets too hot but i like to save it for overnight when the sunporch stops generating heat. ANy avarage house will be 10 or more degrees warmer than outside temps due to Body heat and appliances like your refrigerator and dryer if its vented internally and cookin stove.

woodgeek said:

use redneck thermography....look at it after a few light snows during near freezing weather.

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Too funny. Yeah, I've done that.
You could go really high tech and take some photos.

Heat retention insulation question
started by Wisneaky, Sep 28, 2015.

Well it's been a month. Have you needed any heat yet? For the record, insulation doesn't retain heat, a thermal mass does that.

Circus said:

For the record, insulation doesn't retain heat, a thermal mass does that.

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Well, the insulation slows the transfer of heat which keeps it in the home or "retains" it. The insulation itself doesn't hold the heat. It's like a pond liner that retains the water. Whatever, not important.

I'm curious too. My old house has been getting progressively more air sealed and insulated as I make improvements. We have no trees and notice that the house does not heat up in the summer from sun and also that it is quick to warm up in the winter after it cools. We are noticing the opposite problem of the OP, it stays cool.

We are big ventilation people, I run the bath fan for a good hour after showers. I hate mold and humidity since I don't like the idea of dust mites.

woodgeek said:

to the OP: Enjoy your heat retaining house.

If your attic is well insulated AND properly airsealed, the temp in your attic will not significantly affect the temp in your house AND you will have no need for active ventilation up there....passive venting will be fine.

To see if its well airsealed, use redneck thermography....look at it after a few light snows during near freezing weather. If the roof holds snow well, without any blotchy melting, lines where your joists are, better than your neighbors, etc, you win. If not, then you have a well insulated but poorly airsealed attic, and can worry about mold up there, ice-dams, etc.

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Woodgeek- How would I airseal my attic? The attic floor is insulated with blown in fiberglass, with wood planks over the floor joists

This is a great video from this old house on a whole house fan installation
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20353533,00.html

ED 3000 said:

How would I airseal my attic?

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http://www.finehomebuilding.com/pages/how-to-air-seal-attic/

As mentioned already by me and others, packed-cellulose under the attic floor will help with both air-sealing and insulation. https://bct.eco.umass.edu/publications/by-title/cellulose-insulation-a-smart-choice/
You can do a fair job yourself with materials and equipment from the big box stores.

Wisneaky said:

I'm hoping someone can explain why my house retains heat so much. I have an older house built in the 50s. We completely remodeled last summer. New windows, new roof, new insulation in walls, new doors. Everything is practically new except kitchen. R13 insulation in walls, poly vapor barrier on exterior walls. Blown insulation in roof to r38 white steel roof, white vinyl siding. My house retains heat like crazy now. Like today it is 64 outside and 74 degrees inside. Someone please explain to me why it is so warm in here.

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Still having the same problem?

This thread is hard to read as I sit in my 1880's home. I would love to have this problem.

Whole house fans are a must ,i dont see them in many home ,but i would never be without one. Whats the point of running AC compressors all night when the outside temps are in the 60s but the house is in the 80s from a hot day.

Whole house fans have limited utility in many climates, as out East, due to high summer humidity.

On the few days a year that I can passively cool my house without letting a bunch of humidity in, I just open a few screen doors and get a cross breeze.

woodgeek said:

Whole house fans have limited utility in many climates, as out East, due to high summer humidity.
On the few days a year that I can passively cool my house without letting a bunch of humidity in, I just open a few screen doors and get a cross breeze.

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The only place i get too much humidity in summer is in the basement. Also sometimes my passive solar room overheats the house in spring and fall and i need it.

It is possible that the humidity in your basement is getting pulled in by your whole house fan...its a cold trap?

woodgeek said:

It is possible that the humidity in your basement is getting pulled in by your whole house fan...its a cold trap?

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Humidity is the same wether the house fan is going or not. Humidity is not too bad here in summer but the basement is all underground so i get a bit of ground moisture. Basement does not grow mold but my boiler rusts a little if i dont run the dehumidifier. I think a Geospring WH would do the trick here, i may look into that.