GET INSULATED
Make sure your home is well insulated to cut heat-loss and reduce your energy bills
● If you moved into your home after 2007, you'll almost certainly have an Energy ● Up to a third of a property's heat is lost through poorly insulated walls, and you'll make significant long-term savings by tackling this problem. Insulating solid walls (generally in pre-1920s houses) is more expensive than cavity wall insulation, though the savings are greater. ● The loft can account for 25% per cent of your home's heat-loss and is far cheaper to insulate. Layer mineral wool insulation between and across the joists to a depth of 270mm, and fit raised flooring above it if using the area for storage. Or, get a professional installer to insulate the sloping rafters. ● Prevent draughts by sealing the gaps around windows and doors, and fitting a Chimney Sheep to block heat-escape in an unused fireplace. Fit a jacket round your hot water tank, cover pipes with foam tubes, and slip foil panels discreetly behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room. Add rugs over bare floorboards and consider slotting secondary glazing panels over single-gazed windows as a budget-friendly alternative to double-glazed units.
