Home Insulation

Should you be concerned if you have vermiculate insulation in your roof?

Jul

2015

The Importance Of Fitting The Right Type Of Thermal Insulation

Depending on the time of year, having a large amount of thermal insulation can be either a good or a bad thing. The issue was reported by the Daily Mail this month when they highlighted how some homes are actually too hot in the summer.

Experts are now suggesting the drive towards greener homes may be putting people’s health at risk in cases where insulation has been overdone. This can be the case in modern flats where developers keen to display their eco-friendly approach have ended up making some areas of buildings uncomfortably hot during the summer months.

The issue was raised to the fore as a result of the recent heatwave where temperatures soared into the 30s and people were left sweltering indoors with temperatures rising above the healthy limit of 25 degrees.

Ironically, heat related deaths caused by global warming are expected to triple to 7,000 people a year. The problem is particularly likely to affect the elderly, the obese and people with chronic illnesses and it is unlikely that anything can be done to reverse the drive towards better insulation for homes.

In the future there may need to be some balance restored between creating houses that don’t use more fuel than they need to during winter, yet still be cool enough to be comfortable to live in during the summer months. Fitting the right type of thermal insulation is the obvious solution to this particular problem.

Jan

2015

5 Steps To Insulating Your Home

Something as straightforward as insulating your loft correctly can save you £250 on heating bills according to the Energy Trust. This significant financial saving is just one reason to check if your loft is insulated or if the insulation you have is effective.

If your loft is insulated as all new build homes are today, then there is no need to worry, but older properties may well need an upgrade in loft insulation to improve energy efficiency. Unless you are confident that you can do the job to the required standard, then it is worth asking a professional to install insulation for you.

If you do decide to go it alone and do it yourself here are 5 steps to remember:

Check that your roof space doesn’t have any damp creeping in before you start your loft insulation project. Damp can lead to rot and applying insulation over this is not a good idea.
Wear protective gear such as overalls, gloves and a dust mask to prevent fibres irritating the skin and your airways. There are alternative insulation materials available such as sheep’s wool and recycled newspapers that may be more suitable if you don’t like the thought of handling mineral wool.
You should make accurate measurements of your joists and the floor of your loft to make sure insulation is cut to the correct size and fits properly.
It is recommended that the depth of insulation for mineral wool insulation is 27cm. This can vary, however, depending on the material you are using.
If you already have some loft insulation, you don’t need to remove it. Just add the new material on the top. Don’t put boards on top of your insulation as this will compress it and reduce its effectiveness.

Aug

2014

Insulating Your Home in the Summer

When thinking of insulation, people tend to think of how it is so important in keeping your house warm in the winter months. But keeping your home cool in summer months is just as important, particularly with the unusually warm temperatures currently being experienced across the UK. There are other things you can do that will contribute to a cooler home. Monitoring your energy usage will not only keep you comfortably cool when there is a heatwave, but it will also save you money. Here are a few simple tips to conserve energy:

Appliances
These mod-cons are also the biggest consumers of your total energy. A few ways to trim the excess usage with your regularly utilised appliances include using the cold water setting on the washing machine. And why not use the sunny days to line-dry the washing outside? Hand washing your dishes as soon as they are used will not only ensure everything is clean when you need it, but it will save you a bundle on your energy bill. Large appliances produce significant heat when in use, so the less you use them the cooler your home will be.

Windows
A very simple way to keep your house cool is to keep blinds and curtains closed in the day time. We all want to let the sunshine flood our homes, but this actually heats up your house. Keeping the sun out avoids the use of fans and air conditioning.

Air Conditioning
It’s more efficient to turn your air con on and off for short intervals rather running it at a steady temperature. In the interim, you can use fans to move the cooler air around the house if you don’t have central heating/cooling. Be sure you maintain your unit for peak efficiency.

Cooking
Your oven has one job-to make your food hot. The same goes for its effect on your home. Using a microwave is more energy efficient than the oven without emitting nearly as much heat.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog