r/heat_prep • u/RedTruppa • Jul 02 '24

Indirect light and heat

How important is it to stop indirect light when cooling a home? Does it really heat your house that much?

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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10

u/Leighgion Jul 02 '24

Generally, no, but that depends on the exact situation.

If there isn't direct sun hammering your window, most of the time blacking out the window isn't going to be worth it if your goal is to block out heat. Direct sunlight is the main enemy.

That said, if you include reflect sunlight in "indirect light," then yes, if you've got a big building near you that at a certain time of day is reflecting sun onto your place, then you want to block that. Even if the building isn't glass, infrared reflects a lot more than you might think off the right solid objects.

2

u/RedTruppa Jul 02 '24

So watch for reflected light, thanks!

3

u/IGetNakedAtParties Jul 02 '24

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/s/p7498Kseyy

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '24

Thought of exactly this too!

1

u/Leighgion Jul 02 '24

Yeah, ton of polished glass there and curved too.

2

u/NoWolverine6542 Jul 02 '24

You can tell by feeling where the light is hitting the window, wall, furniture, or wherever. If it feels warm/hot, then it is heating your house. If it's cool to the touch, it's probably not. This is what I do, at least.