Reduce heat loss from your home: Wall and loft insulation

Did you know that around 35% of heat in the home escapes through the walls, and a further 25% can be lost through the roof?

The more difficult it is for heat to escape, the less heating is required. By insulating your home, you can save energy and reduce the cost of your heating bills. It also improves the overall energy efficiency of the home and can reduce condensation and damp issues.

Insulation is often thought of as keeping the warmth in during winter, but it also helps to keep our homes cooler in summer. Here’s a brief guide to wall and loft insulation.

Wall insulation

If your home was built in the last 20 years or so, it probably already has insulation built in.

If your home was built after the 1920s, it is more likely to have cavity walls. These can be insulated by injecting the insulation material into the gap between the inner and outer walls.

If your home is built pre-1920s, it is likely to have solid walls. Solid walls are often more expensive to insulate but will result in considerable savings on your heating bills. It is often more cost-effective to insulate solid walls at the same time as carrying out other works on your home.

Unsure which wall structure your property has? Have a look here: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation/cavity-wall

Loft insulation

Loft insulation is very cost effective, lasting up to 40 years and paying for itself several times over. Even if your loft already has insulation, it may require topping up to the recommended 270mm thickness. Fitting loft insulation can be a DIY job, but it is often just as cost-effective to get an installer in to carry out the works and ensure adequate ventilation and pipework insulation. If you opt for a DIY approach, ensure you wear protective clothing including a mask, goggles, gloves and appropriate footwear.

What can I save?

	Cavity Wall – annual savings		Loft – annual savings
	£	kgCO2	£	kgCO2
Detached	225	1040	225	920
Semi-detached	150	620	135	550
Mid-terrace	95	380	120	490
Bungalow	105	420	195	790
Flat	70	290	N/A	N/A

_{Cavity wall figures based on a typical gas-heated home. Loft insulation figures based on insulating a gas-heated home with no insulation, with 270mm of loft insulation (recommended depth of mineral wool insulation). All figures based on April 2019 fuel prices.}

_{Source: Energy Saving Trust: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation}

 

Action Surrey can provide impartial advice on insulation measures. You may be eligible for funding for cavity wall and/or loft insulation. Get in touch with us via the Action Surrey hotline to check your eligibility, or to be referred for free, no-obligation quotes from reliable installers.

Please note that due to COVID-19, our installers are not currently carrying out works, but you can line up your survey for when operations begin to return to normal.

 

Useful links

_{https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation/cavity-wall}

_{https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation/solid-wall}

_{https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation/roof-and-loft}