As the summer fades into memory, insulation may be the last thing on your mind. However, investing your time and money in insulation now will ensure that you reap the rewards when winter arrives. Insulation will save you money in the long-term and will help to keep your home snug, whatever the weather.
How It Works
Insulation is about preventing the loss of warm air from your home. Heat naturally flows from warm areas to colder areas. The warm air in your home expands and moves around. It escapes through walls, roofs, ceilings, fireplaces, windows and doors. It can sneak through any places where plumbing, electrical wiring or ducting penetrate through exterior walls. Heat will find the smallest gaps, cracks and weaknesses in its bid to escape into the cooler air! Even the smallest insulation measures can help you to save energy. However, if you are insulating, you also need to ensure that you are ventilating; failure to ensure that you have sufficient ventilation can lead to condensation.
Temporary Insulation Measures
There are several reasons why you may consider temporary insulation instead of permanent measures. You live in rented accommodation; maybe you can’t afford to invest in permanent insulation at the moment; or maybe you live in a listed building and are restricted as to what you can do. It may seem obvious, but if you are losing heat via gaps under doors, a simple draught excluder can make a huge difference. Other specialist items include temporary double glazing and polystyrene panels. If you are looking for temporary, low cost insulation, pop into your local DIY shop and see what is available.
Where To Insulate
Heat rises, so the most effective way to insulate your home is to start from the top and work your way down. Loft, wall, window and floor insulation will make a huge difference, helping you to conserve energy which will, in turn, reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bills. However there may be simpler or less expensive measures that you can take which also make a big difference. These include:
- Buying a cover for your water tank or cylinder.
- Cover your loft hatch with a layer of insulation.
- Insulate the back of your radiator to prevent heat from being lost through the wall.
- Use wood filler or moulding to fill gaps between floor boards or skirting board. Even investing in a good quality rug can help.
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