Insulation tips - cavaity, loft and draft proofing

hendy14

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could give me the best value insulation tips. I am in the process of completing my first house buy and I am a novice, it will need central heating put in as has not got it already. But as I am wanting it to be as efficient as possible to save money/energy I was wondering where is best to get insulation put in and especially the best draft proofing techniques as atm the house is freezing.

Any help would be great.

Procrastinator333

Don't forget to weigh it up against the cost. No point in spending £500 to save £10 a year.

My suggestion is start with the big impact, low cost items.

1) loft insulation. See what is up there and add more. Get it via something like npower an it is £1 a roll delivered. Then spend a day layering up your loft. £15 and a days work an that will probably make more difference than anything else you do.

2) cut out the drafts. So draught excluders on all door. But don't be tempted to block any air bricks.

3) if you are having rads put in, get some silver foil insulation, b&q have it on offer, and attach that to the wall behind all your rads.

4) if you have cavity walls, get those done, again, I'm sure there is a subsidized service from somewhere.

Personally I would do those items and see how you go with a decent central heating system.

hendy14

Thats great thanks. What did you mean my rads and also do you know about central heating systems and what are best? For instance, we are buying a 2 bed bungalow with lounge, small bathroom and small kitchen so we have been suggested a combi boiler would be a good option. but I have no idea of where to start with weighing up the options and what my needs really are.

thanks again,

A.Penny.Saved

hendy14 wrote: »

Thats great thanks. What did you mean my rads and also do you know about central heating systems and what are best? For instance, we are buying a 2 bed bungalow with lounge, small bathroom and small kitchen so we have been suggested a combi boiler would be a good option. but I have no idea of where to start with weighing up the options and what my needs really are.

thanks again,

rads=radiators

There is a silver heat reflecting foil that can be put behind radiators which helps stop heat going into the wall. It reflects it back.

It might be worth considering Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on the radiators to better control the room temperature. Also radiator isolation valves are worth considering if you need to decorate after the rads have been fitted. Then the isolating valve and radiator valve/TRV can be switched off and the radiator removed so that the wall can be full decorated. Wickes and a few other places sell radiator isolation valves but they are not that cheap at around £18/19. I purchased some online and got them a lot cheaper at around £8/9, however the seller closed down his website.

It does mean lifting off a radiator which is full of water and they can be very heavy. It means that there is less messing around trying to drain radiators. You might be the type to not bother decorating behind radiators in which case they would be pointless.

2010

The first thing to do and I mean

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NOW, is to get a rough measurement of the loft area by taking the length and width of the bungalow to find the square meterage.
Then go to this site and get your loft insulation delivered for £1 a roll.

http://www.npower.com/Home/Energy-efficiency/Home-insulation/DIY-loft-insulation/index.htm

Add a bit extra on as you can`t have too much loft insulation.
The offer could be pulled at anytime time so get on with it.

Procrastinator333

hendy14 wrote: »

Thats great thanks. What did you mean my rads and also do you know about central heating systems and what are best? For instance, we are buying a 2 bed bungalow with lounge, small bathroom and small kitchen so we have been suggested a combi boiler would be a good option. but I have no idea of where to start with weighing up the options and what my needs really are.

thanks again,

A combi is a boiler that heats the water as you use it. It takes up less space as you don't need a water tank in the airing cupboard or a tank in the loft. Downside is if it breaksdown, that is it, no heating or hot water until it is fixed.

We have gone for a combi as I think it will work out cheaper with a lower occupancy house and also it saves space as we no longer have a tank in the airing cupboard.