Why Is Insulation Important For Your House?

You can install insulation in your home to retain heat that usually escapes from your property. High energy bills can decrease your home’s energy rating and market value. 

You can add insulation to your home in the walls and loft, forming a blockade between the interior and outside. The heat loss will rapidly raise your energy costs due to overworking your heating system. 

What Are the Types of Insulation? 

To ensure the proper insulation for your property, you must choose the right type, depending on its construction. 

Loft Insulation 

With a lifespan of up to 40 years, loft insulation can potentially save you up to nearly £600 a year. It does this by preventing 25% of the heat in your home from escaping through the roof. 

It is most likely that loft roll such as matting will be used for this job. Made from glass fibre, rock fibre or sheep’s wool, it is available in various widths and workability making it an easy job that you could do yourself. If you opt to handle the work yourself, remember that the insulation’s Lambda or K value denotes its thermal conductivity. A lower value means it loses less heat.

It is also worth noting that the width of the material does not always mean ‘better’; as thin materials could have a low Lamba value, meaning more efficiency and greater heat loss prevention.  

It can be a quick installation process, but if you are unsure, always ask a professional to carry out the work. 

Solid Wall Insulation 

Older homes, built before 1990, will most likely have a solid wall construction. This can lead to a large amount of heat loss due to the lack of cavities or gaps and having only one layer between interior and exterior air. You can install insulation either inside or outside the home.

Internally, solid boards will be applied to the walls. There may also be an addition of a stud wall which acts as a casing for holding matting materials. This is the most cost-effective option for wall insulation.

Installing outside will involve the application of boards to the solid walls, set in place by render and reinforced mesh.

Sometimes, this method causes the property’s exterior to change with cladding that conceals the original brickwork. However, this option can be considerably expensive, and obtaining planning permission may be necessary due to alterations to the home’s appearance.

Floor Insulation 

Insulating material will be placed beneath floorboards, typically on the ground floor. It will prevent draughts from entering via the floor and could save £75 yearly. It can also seal gaps between the floors and skirting boards. 

Draught Proof 

Seal up unwanted gaps to block draughts and prevent hot air from escaping. Install draught-proofing in areas with windows and floorboards; you can easily do this yourself. Adding draught excluders and letterbox flaps is a quick and easy way of keeping the heat in yourself. 

Can you over-insulate a House? 

While some insulation methods can be undertaken independently, it is advisable to enlist a professional, as excessive insulation may lead to other issues for your home.

Ultimately, insulation prevents heat from escaping which makes your loft space a lot cooler. This could lead to an introduction of damp or worsen established condensation levels. It is vital that ventilation may need improving. 

It’s crucial to maintain airflow in and out of your home, ensuring that ventilation is not obstructed during the insulation process. Keep vents, grilles, and airbricks clear to allow a healthy flow of air through your home.

Why is Insulation Important? 

Adding insulation to your home is a great way of improving your energy costs and energy efficiency. Cheap insulation materials and install methods can see you save money on your energy bills allowing the installed method to pay for itself. 

It Can Save on Energy Bills and Help Energy Efficiency 

• Your loft insulation could bring savings of approximately £225 a year for a mid-terrace home and £415 a year for a detached home. 
• Cavity wall insulation can save you around £155 for a mid-terrace house and £455 for a detached house. This is an annual occurrence however it is essential to consider installation costs due to the professional requirements for implementing this method.
• Cavity walls are filled with insulation being pumped into the gap keeping your home warmer for less money.
• The most expensive of the methods, solid wall insulation, can cost £12,000 for exterior walls and £8,500 for internal walls with expectant savings of £540 a year.
• Solid Wall Insulation can alter the appearance of your home by adding extra layers of wall with the insulation inside.  
• Working in conjunction with renewable energy methods such as heat pumps and solar panels maximises potential savings. It raises the energy efficiency of your home by using energy from the sun which can then power the heat pump system. This uses less energy to heat your home faster. Your insulation will then work to keep the generated heat in. 

How Can I Insulate My Home Cheaply? 

The discussed methods are crafted to be as cost-effective as possible, ultimately saving you money in the long run. Understandably, quick and cheaper ways to insulate your home are out there: 

• Seal loft air leaks. 
• Introduce thermal curtains to windows. 
• Draught excluders for doors. 
• Plug unused chimneys. 
• Buy rugs or carpets to cover floors. 
• You can ensure any gaps around doors and windows are sealed with weatherproof filling materials. 

Can I Insulate My Home for Free? 

If your home is desperate for insulation but the financial cost of the installation and everything preceding it is a worry, there is government support out there for people who meet the correct criteria. This will allow them to receive an insulation grant.

ECO4 

The Energy Company Obligation is a government-backed scheme for applicable energy suppliers to help homes reduce their energy bills by implementing energy-saving methods. Your energy company will deal with this directly and can inform you of your eligibility. Alternatively, check your eligibility below.  

Great British Insulation Scheme 

This scheme functions as a partner to ECO4 but is different because it focuses mainly on lower-cost insulation methods like loft insulation, floor, and walls as mentioned above. This approach allows as many households as possible support. Check your eligibility below.