| ated dog houses help to regulate the temperature | | | | insulation helps to keep the inside warm during the |
| around your pet. Insulated dog houses work in the | | | | winter and cool during the summer. |
| same manner that insulated homes work. | | | | Insulation can also trap air pockets inside itself. |
| Insulation slows the transfer of heat from | | | | This also helps to slow the rate of heat transfer. |
| warmer air to cooler air. | | | | The air spaces slow conduction by separating |
| You may remember learning in science class | | | | materials that conduct heat more easily than air |
| about heat flow. If you need a refresher, | | | | (for instance, the floor of the house and the |
| here’s a summary. Heat transfers through | | | | ground). Air is a poor conductor, compared to |
| radiation, convection, or conduction. | | | | other materials. For this reason, an easy way to |
| Radiation transfers heat through empty space. | | | | improve the natural insulation of your dog house is |
| For example, the sun’s rays heat the | | | | to buy one with a raised floor or place it on a low |
| earth, or a campfire warms your skin. | | | | platform. This traps a layer of air underneath the |
| Convection transfers heat through movement of | | | | floor. |
| a material such as water or air. The heat source | | | | As you shop for insulated dog houses, you will |
| warms the water or air that touches it. As the | | | | want to pay attention to the R-value of the |
| water or air warms, it rises, and the cooler water | | | | insulation. The R-value communicates the |
| or air moves under the warmer. The movement | | | | effectiveness of the insulation. The higher the |
| creates a current. If you heat your home with a | | | | R-value, the more effective the insulation will be. |
| forced air furnace, you heat your home through | | | | Particularly if you plan to use a heating and air |
| convection. | | | | conditioning unit, you will want to shop for |
| Conduction transfers heat directly through | | | | insulated dog houses and pay attention to |
| materials. Some materials are better conductors | | | | R-values. You will use less energy maintaining a |
| than others. Metal conducts heat very well, which | | | | comfortable temperature with insulation slowing |
| is why your cooking pot on the burner becomes | | | | the rate of heat transfer. |
| hot enough to burn you, but the rubber or plastic | | | | So as you shop for insulated dog houses, |
| handle does not. | | | | remember these things. Heat transfer occurs |
| Insulation does not stop heat transfer from | | | | through radiation, convection, and conduction. |
| occurring, but it does slow the rate of transfer. | | | | Insulation that can combat more than one type of |
| Reflective insulation reflects heat. Heat travels to | | | | heat transfer will be more effective. You cannot |
| cooler spaces. As a result, in the summer, the hot | | | | stop heat transfer, but you can slow it. Check for |
| air outside wants to get inside. In the winter, the | | | | other features, such as raised floors, that also aid |
| hot air inside wants to get outside. Insulated dog | | | | the insulation value. If you are not sure how |
| houses slow this travel by reflecting the heat | | | | effective the insulation will be in a given dog |
| instead of allowing it to pass through. The | | | | house, compare the insulation R-values. |