Heat Loss From Homes

Is your home leaking heat?

In an uninsulated home, around 35 percent of heat loss is through the walls and 25 percent is lost through the roof. The remaining 40 percent is lost through doors, windows and the floor. The better insulated your home is the less heat you will be losing, meaning you do not need to run your heating as much (saving you money!).

Insulating your property will help reduce your energy consumption and lower your fuel bills. Insulation can also help alleviate damp, making it a healthier home to live in.

How can I insulate my home?

The easiest measures to install are loft and cavity wall insulation.

• Loft insulation is laid in sheets between the joists in the loft space and provides a barrier to stop heat escaping through the roof. The recommended depth of loft insulation is 270mm, so if you have less than this you may need a top-up
• For cavity wall insulation small holes are drilled into the walls of a property and insulation is pumped in to fill the cavity. The insulation forms a barrier to stop the heat escaping through the walls

How do I tell if I have cavity walls

If your home was built after the 1920s it is likely that you have cavity walls, but if you want to check then there are two easy ways to tell:

• The brick pattern: in cavity walls, all the bricks on the outside will be lengthways, whereas for solid walls they are alternate lengthways-sideways-lengthways-sideways
• The thickness of the wall: if you measure the depth of the wall at a doorway or window, a cavity wall will normally be about 260mm (10.25in)

If you have solid walls, these can be insulated too. Insulation material can be installed to either the inside or the outside of your walls.

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Want more advice?

Visit the Energy Saving Trust website (external link) for more information about saving energy.

You may also find our Greening Your Home Guide helpful.

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