Temperatures are starting to drop and we’re all thinking about putting the heating on.
But with energy charges at an unprecedented high, it’s vital for cash-strapped families to keep heating costs as low as possible, and the best way to do it is to make sure your home is properly insulated, so the heat you’ve paid huge sums of money for isn’t seeping out through the walls, floors and roof.
Experts at Insulation Express (insulationexpress.co.uk) warn 25% of the heat in an uninsulated property escapes through the roof, 35% through walls and 10% through floors, and insulating a property can save around £500 a year.
“As temperatures drop, a badly insulated home will feel colder much quicker and retain less heat, causing your boiler to work harder and driving up your energy bills,” says Insulation Express property manager Jenny Turner.
“It’s vital to check existing insulation, or install it in your property to save on energy bills this winter. The investment in insulation in the roof and walls, and draught-proofing your home now, will pay for itself in a short time, making it worthwhile for both your home and your wallet.”
And Jessica Forster, project manager at the Energy Saving Trust (energysavingtrust.org.uk) adds: “Preventing heat loss, particularly as we head into the colder months, will mean you’ll use less energy to heat your home.”
Here, the experts offer tips on how to make sure your home’s properly insulated…
1. Check for draughts
Forster says simple draught-proofing is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy and money in your house. “Take yourself around your home to find where the biggest draughts are, and where you can block unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out,” she advises.
At current price cap levels, sealing gaps around windows, doors, floors and skirting boards, could lead to an annual reduction in bills of £125 a year for a typical semi-detached or mid-terrace home, or £70 a year for a mid-floor flat, she says, adding: “Professional draught-proofing is likely to save more energy, because an installer will know which materials will work best.”
2. Look at your loft insulation
If you can get into your loft easily, Turner says it’s a good idea to check for gaps in any insulation that’s already in place, explaining: “Insulation should reach every corner of the loft, with no gaps or shallow pockets that could let heat escape, vastly reducing your home’s heating efficiency.”
She suggests using a tape measure to assess the depth of the existing insulation, and the spacing between the joists, beginning at the mid-point of one joist and measuring to the mid-point of the next. Turner says the distance will usually be either 400mm or 600mm, indicating the width of any additional insulation you may need.
As for the thickness of the insulation, Turner says ideal thickness depends on the type of insulation material, but for loft insulation, the recommended thickness for glass wool insulation is 300mm on new builds, 250mm for rock wool, and 220mm for cellulose.
3. Feel for damp and draughts
Simply using your hands to feel whether an external wall feels cold or damp can give a good indication of whether it’s well-insulated or not, explains Turner. “More common in older properties, damp and cold external walls can indicate a lack of insulation and means that heat in this area will dissipate quickly,” she says. “Use your hand to feel along a wall to see if it’s damp – any visible signs of mould and damp can be a clear sign of poor insulation, in addition to a lack of ventilation.”
If your wall does feel cold or damp, you may need to have cavity wall insulation put in, and Forster says: “Around a third of heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls. Most homes in the UK have a cavity wall which can be filled with insulation, and installing cavity wall insulation could result in an annual saving of around £395 for a £1,200 investment, with a payback time of less than two years.”
4. Look at your property’s Energy Performance Certificate
All buildings in the UK should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which outlines the energy efficiency of the building, showing how well your house retains heat on a scale of A to G, explains Turner. “This is beneficial for homeowners, as it highlights possible energy costs, and some certificates even provide suggestions for types of insulation your home would benefit from,” she says. “If your property scores on the lower end of the scale, you’ll know there are improvements to be made in terms of insulation and energy efficiency.”
5. Use a thermal imaging camera
Using a thermal imaging camera on a property’s external walls when the heating’s on inside will visually highlight areas where the surface temperature changes from warm to cold, and identify weaknesses in current insulation, says Turner, who points out that this is best done after dark for easier visibility.
You can buy a thermal camera from around £220 or more, or pay to have a thermal imaging survey done professionally, for an in-depth analysis of your home’s energy efficiency.
6. Dont forget the floor
Although less heat is lost through floors than through walls and the roof, Forster says insulation is a great way to keep your property warm, although you generally only need to insulate the ground floor, with the exception of floors above unheated spaces, like garages.
Turner suggests homeowners check whether any solid or suspended floors have polystyrene insulation boards or thermal floor panels underneath them, and seal any gaps between floorboards and skirting boards to reduce the risk of draughts.
But, she adds: “For a cheaper solution, invest in thick rugs that will act as an extra layer of insulation, providing a barrier against draughts and trapping heat before it escapes, helping to keep the room cosy and warm.”
