If insulation gets wet, what would it do to the insulating characteristics of the insulation?

If insulation gets wet, what would it do to the insulating characteristics of the insulation?

• A. Decrease it
• B. Increase it
• C. No change
• D. Vary unpredictably

Answer: (A)

Moisture in insulation reduces its ability to resist heat. Insulation works mainly by trapping air, which is a poor conductor. When it gets wet, water fills those air spaces and conducts heat more readily than air, so the overall resistance to heat flow drops. In short, the insulating characteristics decrease. The other options don’t fit because moisture does not improve insulation, and under typical conditions it does change performance (usually lowering it) rather than leaving it unchanged, though the extent of the decrease depends on the material and how wet it is.

Moisture in insulation reduces its ability to resist heat. Insulation works mainly by trapping air, which is a poor conductor. When it gets wet, water fills those air spaces and conducts heat more readily than air, so the overall resistance to heat flow drops. In short, the insulating characteristics decrease. The other options don’t fit because moisture does not improve insulation, and under typical conditions it does change performance (usually lowering it) rather than leaving it unchanged, though the extent of the decrease depends on the material and how wet it is.