Keeping your home wam isn't just about turning up the heating. Good insulation helps reduce heat loss, so your home needs less energy to stay warm.
A typical uninsulated home can lose heat through its walls, roof and floor. Adding insulation can help reduce this heat loss, which could lower your energy bills and carbon emissions.
What types of insulation are there?
Insulating your home can help slow down heat moving in and out of your home. Without adequate material or products, heat can easily escape.
There are different types of insulation and what's right for your home will depend on things like its age, construction, and where heat is being lost.
Loft and roof insulation
An uninsulated roof or loft can be a significant source of heat loss.
If your loft is easy to access and doesn't have damp or condensation problems, installing insulation between and over the joists can be a relatively straightforward way to reduce heat loss.
If you use your loft as a living space, you may need to insulate at roof level instead.
Wall insulation
The right type of wall insulation depends on how your home was built.
Many homes have cavity walls, with a gap between two layers of brick or block. In suitable properties, this cavity may be filled with insulating material.
Older homes are more likely to have solid walls. These can be insulated from the outside or inside, although this tends to be a bigger job than insulating a cavity wall.
A professional installer can help you understand what type of walls you have and whether insulation is suitable for your property.
Floor insulation
Insulating a ground floor can help reduce heat loss, particularly in older homes with suspended timber floors.
How it's done depends on the floor construction. Suspended timber floors can sometimes be insulated underneath, while solid floors may need insulation added when the floor is being replaced or renovated.
Hot water tank insulation
You can buy a good British Standard "jacket" from any good DIY store, making it a relatively cheap and easy way to cut heat loss by up to 75%.
Double glazing
Double glazed windows trap air between the panes to reduce heat loss, noise and condensation.
Quick ways to reduce draughts
You don't have to start major renovation work to make your home feel warmer. Look for unwanted gaps around:
- Windows and external doors
- Floorboards and skirting boards
- Loft hatches
- Pipework
- Letterboxes and keyholes
Draught-proofing these areas can help stop warm air escpaing and cold air getting in.
Once identified, you can take the following steps:
- Draught excluders block cold air from coming in under your doors.
- Add sealant strips around your windows to cut icy drafts.
- Radiator reflectors will reflect heat back into your room, instead of through the walls.
- Rugs can make a real difference to draughty floorboards and can make you feel cosier, too.
- Thick curtains help to improve your home’s thermal insulation.
- Make sure your air vents are properly sealed. If they’re letting cold air in around the edges, seal the gaps.
Don't forget ventilation
When sealing gaps, make sure you don't block the vents themselves. Your home still needs adequate ventilation after insulation and draught-proofing work. Ventilation helps remove moisture and reduce the risk of condensation, damp and poor indoor air quality.
Building regulations and insulation
If you're carrying out building work, there may be efficiency standards your project needs to meet.
For example, in England, Part L of the Building Regulations covers the energy performance of new and existing buildings. The requirements that apply will depend on the property and the type of work you're doing.
Building regulations differ across the UK, so check the requirements that apply where you live and speak your builder or building control body before starting work.
Before installing insulation
Before going ahead with insulation, it's worth checking that it's suitable for your home.
Look out for existing problems such as damp, condensation, leaking roofs or damaged brickwork. These may need attention before insulation work is carried out.
For larger jobs, consider using an appropriately qualified installer who can assess your property and recommend a suitable approach.
You should also check whether the work needs building regulations approval, planning permission or other consent before you begin.
