Steamboat is once again heading towards the winter plunge. Temperatures are going down, and soon, snow will be piling up – as will heating costs. Fortunately, there are a few ways that carpet can help make a room warmer. We’ll discuss them in this post.
R-Value: the Science Behind Carpet’s Natural Warmth
A room’s insulation is measured by its r-value (resistance value). The higher this measurement, the better it resists heat transfer.
As you’ve probably realized on a cold winter morning, carpet is naturally warmer (due to its higher r-value) than any hard surface floor.
Carpet Padding: an Extra Layer of Insulation
Carpet is installed over padding. This means an added layer between your room and the subfloor, which naturally means more insulation. However, there are different types of carpet padding, and each one has a different impact on r-value. Here’s a quick look at how they measure up:
- Rubber Carpet Padding: Rubber is a popular material for carpet padding. It’s durable, but it also has the lowest r-value of any padding.
- Fiber Carpet Padding: Fiber provides a more mid-level padding option. It’s also a great choice for high-traffic areas.
- Memory Foam Carpet Padding: Memory foam provides a little more r-value and is often preferred for its comfort. However, it doesn’t last as long in high-traffic areas.
- Urethane Carpet Padding: Urethane offers the highest r-value of any carpet padding. Obviously, the thickness will impact the overall r-value. However, it doesn’t hold up as well in high traffic areas.
Placing Warming Appliances With Carpet
One concern we hear often about carpet is whether or not it’s dangerous with heating appliances. It’s a valid concern, and we typically don’t recommend placing them directly on carpet. Fortunately, there are a few ways around it.
Can you Put a Warm Mist Humidifier on Carpet?
Humidifiers are especially popular during our long, dry winters. Warm mist humidifiers help maintain warmer temperatures and, sometimes, do so more efficiently than HVAC systems. However, humidifier should never be placed directly on carpet. However, most humidifiers are small enough to be placed on a small table. Throw a rug under the table and you’ve just created a beautiful accent that actively helps warm your home.
As an added bonus, humidifiers also help reduce static electricity buildup. That means fewer shocks when touching doorknobs this winter season.
Learn More
Carpet is just one of the many things that can help make a room warmer. Of course, there are also many other considerations when buying new flooring. If you’re ready to make an informed choice, visit Steamboat’s leading flooring experts at CarpetsPlus today!
