Insulation pays off

GOOD QUALITY insulation that has been well installed will help keep the heat inside your home during winter months and then keep it out during the heat of the summer. Your house will be easier and cheaper to heat properly and more healthy and comfortable to live in if it is properly insulated.

Unfortunately, research shows that an estimated half (about 700,000) of all New Zealand homes have insufficient ceiling or under-floor insulation.

Even if you have insulated your property in the past, you need to remember that insulation can move or become less effective over time so you may need to upgrade your ceiling insulation if it has been installed for a long time. If you still have to insulate your home, this is what the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) recommends as the order of priority you should follow: Ceiling, underfloor, walls, windows.

Ceiling insulation is generally the easiest, cheapest and most effective insulation to install in your home and it’s a great place to begin making your home warm, comfortable and healthy to live in. Fortunately, ceiling insulation is relatively easy to install in houses with accessible roof spaces.

If you already have ceiling insulation which has been installed for a considerable time, you should check it out and consider a ‘‘top up’’ if your insulation is lower than the height of the ceiling joists, if it doesn’t cover the whole ceiling or if it has gaps in it or areas where it is squashed or tucked in.

You should remove any old ceiling insulation and start again with a new layer if the material is wet or damp in parts, or if it has been damaged by rodents or birds. If you are unable to check your own ceiling insulation, or need advice on whether your insulation needs upgrading, get a professional to come and have a look for you.

Under-floor insulation is the second insulation option you should consider for an existing home. It will certainly help make your home warmer, healthier and more comfortable to live in, and in homes with accessible under-floor space, it’s relatively cheap and easy to install.

Wall insulation makes a big difference to the comfort and warmth of your home.

Once you’ve insulated your ceiling and under-floor spaces, wall insulation is the next step to reduce heat loss in your home.

If you’re renovating this can provide the perfect opportunity to insulate your walls.

Window insulation is important as a lot of your home’s heat can escape through your windows.

The three main types of window insulation are double glazing, retrofit alternatives to double glazing (including DIY window insulation film) and curtains or blinds.

Draughty, ill-fitting windows can cause a room to lose heat very quickly on a cold windy night.