| In most UK houses built after the 1920s, the | | | | When you get a quote from a contractor, they |
| external walls are made of 2 layers with a small | | | | will be able to tell you whether you qualify for |
| air gap or cavity in between them. If your home | | | | these grants. |
| has unfilled cavity walls, a considerable slice of | | | | How is cavity wall insulation installed? The cavity |
| your energy bills will be spent heating the air | | | | wall is injected with insulating material by drilling |
| outside. In fact it is estimated that around 35% of | | | | small holes in the external wall through the mortar |
| the heat from your home is lost through the | | | | joints. The holes are generally around 2cm wide |
| walls. | | | | and are made good after the injection by the |
| Filling the gap between the 2 walls of a house | | | | installer. The material injected is normally |
| with an insulating material massively decreases the | | | | ‘mineral wool’ (fibres made from rock or |
| amount of heat (and money) that is escaping | | | | glass), polystyrene beads or white foam. All |
| through your walls. This could save you between | | | | materials have a similar insulation performance. |
| £130 and £160 a year on your fuel bills for an | | | | The insulation normally takes about 2 hours to |
| average house, according to the UK’s Energy | | | | install, but the time does depend on the size of |
| Saving Trust, and pay back the cost of installation | | | | the house and other factors such as access. |
| in under 2 years. It will also prevent around 1 | | | | How do you know if your house has cavity walls? |
| tonne of CO2 emissions each year, so makes a | | | | Most houses built after the 1920’s have been |
| significant contribution to fighting Climate Change. | | | | built with cavity walls. An easy way to check is to |
| Plus having your cavity walls insulated will make | | | | look at the brickwork in your outside walls. If all |
| your home more comfortable by evening out the | | | | the bricks are laid the same way, with just their |
| temperature in your home, help reduce | | | | sides showing (rather than their ends), then you |
| condensation, and also keep your home cooler in | | | | have cavity walls. But you don’t need to |
| hot summer weather. | | | | make sure of this yourself. All good insulation |
| This is a job that is definitely best done by a | | | | contractors will offer you a free no-obligation |
| professional, as it can be quite technically | | | | insulation survey, when they can check for your |
| demanding and requires specialist equipment. | | | | and let you know what is possible. |
| However, despite paying a contractor, it can be | | | | All reputable cavity wall insulating contractors in |
| done for little money. This is because the large UK | | | | the UK are members of the Cavity Wall Insulation |
| gas and electricity companies heavily subsidise the | | | | Agency (CIGA) guarantee scheme. This scheme |
| cost of insulation through certain contractors, in | | | | gives you a 25 year guarantee on your cavity |
| order to reach their carbon reduction targets set | | | | wall insulation, so that you can be completely |
| by the government. Typically they pick up 30 to | | | | confident in the quality of the work. Plus you will |
| 70% of the bill, no matter what your income. The | | | | be able to pass this guarantee on to any future |
| contractor will also take care of all the paperwork, | | | | purchaser of your house, which will help contribute |
| so that you automatically get these subsidies. In | | | | to your house’s value. |
| addition, if you receive certain state benefits, the | | | | If you are interested in installing cavity wall |
| government will pick up the rest of the cost so | | | | insulation, you should contact a reputable |
| you can get your home installed completely free. | | | | contractor to request a free no-obligation survey. |