When it’s cold outside, a well insulated, draught proofed house keeps warmth inside where you need it – helping to heat your home more efficiently. This means lower bills, less waste and, for the environment, less carbon dioxide (CO2): one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Insulation can also help prevent condensation on walls and ceilings, and give your home a more even temperature, all year round.
So, when it comes to insulation and draft proofing, the real question is: why not?
As you’ll see, the better insulated your home is, the less energy you need to keep it warm – and the more money you’ll save in the long run.
In fact, insulation is so cost effective that it will soon be paying for itself over and over again, with payback starting much quicker than you might imagine. Insulating unfilled cavity walls now typically pays for itself within 2 years, while topping up your loft insulation to the recommended depth of 270mm typically pays for itself within 4 years.
Heat loss happens because heat naturally flows from hot objects or areas to colder ones. During winter, when your house is warmer than the air outside, heat will flow out of the house through poorly insulated solid surfaces such as walls, roofs and windows.
Properly installed insulation will create a barrier between the inside and outside of your home that will reduce the amount of heat being lost and keep more of it inside your home. This will save you money on your heating bills, because your heating system won’t have to keep switching on to replace the lost heat and keep your rooms at a comfortably warm temperature
No: insulating your home doesn’t have to mean turning it upside down.
It can take professional installers no more than a few hours to install wall or loft insulation – with no mess and little fuss and if you’re a competent DIY-er, you could even install loft insulation yourself.
Draught proofing works by blocking any gaps around windows, doors, walls and floors where warm air can escape from the room or the house. With fewer draughts, you’ll need less energy to keep your home warm – so draught proofing measures could save you around £30 a year on your heating bills. What’s more, you’ll feel the difference, as sitting in a chilly draught can make a room feel much colder. In most cases, draught proofing can be managed with ease by a competent DIY-er.