Check home insulation

thejinkazama

Hello,

I’m looking for someone to check the presence and efficiency of insulation in my home. Which type of tradesperson is best placed to do this?

Thank you

ariarnia

it depends what you want. 

i'm tempted by hiring or getting someone to use a thermal camera to look at our house one day. that will show hot spots where theres not much insulation so heat is escaping. 

if you are with octopus i think they rent them to customers or you can hire one or you can probably find a surveyor to turn up and use one and write you a report. 

here's some info: https://www.earth.org.uk/thermal-imaging-survey-of-house.html

MikeJXE

Enquire at a cavity wall insulation company regarding doing cavity wall for  and they will come out and check if you have and tell you what it is. No cost at all

thejinkazama

Thank you both. Is there not someone who checks various different types of insulation? I also considered getting someone with an imaging gun but it was rather costly. 

I saw the Octopus info last week but I’m not with them. 

ariarnia

thejinkazama said:

Thank you both. Is there not someone who checks various different types of insulation? I also considered getting someone with an imaging gun but it was rather costly. 

I saw the Octopus info last week but I’m not with them. 

anyone you want to come out thats cheap then they will try and sell you stuff (google 'spray insulation complaints' and 'compensation cavity wall insulation' to see why that might be a bad idea) 

if you want an independent assessment then it really needs to be a surveyor. or head over to the diy forums take a load of pictures and ask for the people on there to help you work out what youve got and what you can do to make things better

macman

Loft-go up there and see how deep the insulation is. If inadequate, top it up, it's a half day job if you can do simple DIY.
If you have cavity walls, you can drill pilot holes outside to see if any insulation is present.
Double glazing: I think you can work out for yourself.
There's really no need to call for thermal cameras or consultants.

badger09

MikeJXE said:

Enquire at a cavity wall insulation company regarding doing cavity wall for  and they will come out and check if you have and tell you what it is. No cost at all

That’s exactly what I’m doing. Not clear whether some or all of our early 1970s built, but later extended bungalow has full/any cavity wall insulation so I’ve booked a reputable company to come & take a look next week. Will definite have it done if not there already

DG all replaced either by us last year or by previous owner 6 years ago & seems very efficient. Short of replacing with Triple, not much room to improve there. 

BooJewels

macman said:

Loft-go up there and see how deep the insulation is. If inadequate, top it up, it's a half day job if you can do simple DIY.
If you have cavity walls, you can drill pilot holes outside to see if any insulation is present.
Double glazing: I think you can work out for yourself.
There's really no need to call for thermal cameras or consultants.

It's very easy to say that if you're able bodied and able to shin up ladders, reach the loft hatch etc., not everyone is or has easily accessible loft hatches. 

I have no idea what's in my loft, because whilst there's a hatch, it's above the bath in a high ceiling and the hatch was sized when they sent up Victorian urchins to do that sort of work - I don't actually know anyone thin enough to get through it and you certainly wouldn't get a roll of insulation up there through it.  It's certainly not a climbing job I'm willing or able to tackle myself. I'm going to get it addressed when I get the bathroom remodelled, but for now, it will remain a mystery.  Maybe the OP faces similar issues.

Spoonie_Turtle

BooJewels said:

macman said:

Loft-go up there and see how deep the insulation is. If inadequate, top it up, it's a half day job if you can do simple DIY.
If you have cavity walls, you can drill pilot holes outside to see if any insulation is present.
Double glazing: I think you can work out for yourself.
There's really no need to call for thermal cameras or consultants.

It's very easy to say that if you're able bodied and able to shin up ladders, reach the loft hatch etc., not everyone is or has easily accessible loft hatches. 

I have no idea what's in my loft, because whilst there's a hatch, it's above the bath in a high ceiling and the hatch was sized when they sent up Victorian urchins to do that sort of work - I don't actually know anyone thin enough to get through it and you certainly wouldn't get a roll of insulation up there through it.  It's certainly not a climbing job I'm willing or able to tackle myself. I'm going to get it addressed when I get the bathroom remodelled, but for now, it will remain a mystery.  Maybe the OP faces similar issues.

Our loft hatch is sized just fine, but it's right next to the stairs.  One wrong foot and … yeah.  Last time anyone went in the loft we were all nearly two decades younger, much healthier and more sure-footed.

FreeBear

ariarnia said: if you are with octopus i think they rent them to customers or you can hire one or you can probably find a surveyor to turn up and use one and write you a report.

Some local councils also have thermal imaging cameras available for residents to borrow/hire. Worth doing an internet search for local charities too. If you are in Cambridgeshire - https://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/what-we-do/thermal-imaging/

EssexHebridean

Spoonie_Turtle said:

BooJewels said:

macman said:

Loft-go up there and see how deep the insulation is. If inadequate, top it up, it's a half day job if you can do simple DIY.
If you have cavity walls, you can drill pilot holes outside to see if any insulation is present.
Double glazing: I think you can work out for yourself.
There's really no need to call for thermal cameras or consultants.

It's very easy to say that if you're able bodied and able to shin up ladders, reach the loft hatch etc., not everyone is or has easily accessible loft hatches. 

I have no idea what's in my loft, because whilst there's a hatch, it's above the bath in a high ceiling and the hatch was sized when they sent up Victorian urchins to do that sort of work - I don't actually know anyone thin enough to get through it and you certainly wouldn't get a roll of insulation up there through it.  It's certainly not a climbing job I'm willing or able to tackle myself. I'm going to get it addressed when I get the bathroom remodelled, but for now, it will remain a mystery.  Maybe the OP faces similar issues.

Our loft hatch is sized just fine, but it's right next to the stairs.  One wrong foot and … yeah.  Last time anyone went in the loft we were all nearly two decades younger, much healthier and more sure-footed.

This is where a properly fitted loft-ladder comes in. Mum’s loft is located similarly - her ladder complete with guard-rail integral on the stair-facing side means the risk of accessing it is massively reduced.