Don’t let heat make the great escape...
INSULATION EXPERTS TELL LISA SALMON HOW TO CHECK THE MONEY YOU SPEND ON HEATING YOUR PROPERTY ISN’T SEEPING OUT THROUGH WALLS, ROOFS OR FLOORS
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.
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 is properly insulated...
CHECK FOR DRAUGHTS
Jessica says simple draught-proofing is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy and money.
“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.
LOOK AT YOUR LOFT INSULATION
If you can get into your loft easily, Jenny says it’s a good idea to check for gaps in any insulation that’s already in place.
She suggests using a tape measure to assess the depth of the existing insulation, and the spacing between the joists, beginning at the midpoint of one joist and measuring to the mid-point of the next.
FEEL FOR DAMP AND DRAUGHTS
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 Jenny. “More common in older properties, damp and cold external walls can indicate a lack of insulation and mean that heat in this area will dissipate quickly,” she says. If your wall feels cold or damp, you may need to have cavity wall insulation put in which could result in an annual saving of around £395 for a £1,200 investment.
CHECK YOUR PROPERTY’S ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE
All UK buildings should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which shows how well your house retains heat on a scale of A to G, explains Jenny. “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.”
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 Jessica, who points out that this is best done after dark for visibility.
You can buy a thermal camera from around £220, or pay to have a thermal imaging survey done professionally, for an in-depth analysis of your home’s energy efficiency.
DONT FORGET THE FLOOR
Jessica 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.
She suggests checking whether solid floors have polystyrene insulation boards or thermal floor panels underneath. Even thick rugs will help keep the room cosy and warm.