Way to for free or very cheaply insulate our home?

scotsmart

Hi
Can anyone advise on ways to for free insulate our home better than it currently is? we have some loft insulation but not much is there anything i could free-cycle possibly that might work?

We were contemplating getting a wood/multifuel burner but have been put off for now by price of wood and fitting coats, let alone horror stories regarding fitters ripping us off? so we have to rely on terribly expensive storage options (very reluctantly).

Any alternative (cheap) heatsource auggeationa would be helpfull also thanks having just had a 3 day power cut which meant no heat and a five day loss of heat we need to look at alternatives and quickly...

Thank you in advance of replies :beer:

Procrastinator333

Npower. Loft insulation £1 a roll delivered. Not go be cheaper than that.

nickj_2

contact your energy supplier , they are doing free wall/ loft insulation deals

withabix

Contact your local authority.

If you are on any benefits, you may be able to get loft, cavity wall insulation, window and door seals all completely free.

I'm guessing you are in Scotland - it may be different up there, but I doubt it.

daggy

Aren't wood burners terribly inefficient? Lots of heat loss or something?

RE: Loft insulation... I'm sure you'll be able to get it cheap from your energy company, but if you can stretch to it, be sure to get the encapsulated type of insulation. Space blanket type stuff...

If it's not encapsulated it'll get everywhere when you install it.

I'll be changing ours before I board out the loft

scotsmart

Thanks one and all, yes in Scotland, how did you guess :T
Local HA tenant asked them they were not helpfull.
Woodburners arent great multi fuel stoves are excellent but expensive to instal
and need supply of wood as its expensive blah,blah,
Will look into other suggestions
:beer:

davetrousers

I bought in Homebase 4 rolls (7m x 1m) for £2 each, to top up my existing insulation.

It's subsidised so is pretty affordable without too much effort.

27col

There are no alternative cheap heat sources. If there were, we would all be using them.

Ectophile

Modern wood burning stoves are reasonably efficient at converting firewood into heat - mine is up to 85% efficient. However they are not cheap and they should be professionally fitted by a HETAS registered installer - and that isn't cheap either.

Seasoned firewood is approximately the same price as mains gas per kilowatt-hour. If you can scrounge your own, then it can be free but you need to store it for at least a year.

Keep an eye out for subsidised loft insulation. I got a load on a 2-for-1 offer at a local DIY store, subsidised by one of the energy companies.

poohbear59

We bought some secondary glazing from Wickes, cheap and does the job. Maybe a starting point for you? Look at the preparing for Winter thread for other ideas.

Owain_Moneysaver

Check the energy saving trust website for details of offers and grants available.