In the current economical climate everyone is looking for ways to heat their homes more efficiently and save money but most people neglect to think about keeping the heat in their homes once they’ve produced it. Cavity wall insulation has been available for years and I can remember my parents having it installed when I was a kid, but is it still a viable money saving option in today’s world of highly efficient boilers and top quality central heating systems. Not surprisingly the experts say yes and it is estimated that 35% of your home’s heat escapes through the walls, so is it worth the installation price?

The Pros
There are plenty of reasons why you should have cavity wall insulation, one of which is that you could get it fitted for free. The government have grants available for most homes which either allows you to have the insulation installed by professionals free of charge or for the greatly reduced price of around £100. The over 70s get it for free, tenants can get it for free, people on certain benefits can get it for free so why not spend ten minutes filling in the application form. Even if you have to pay the £100, it’s still cheaper than fitting cavity wall insulation using the DIY method.

Another great point is that it can often save you money on your heating bills. A detached house with all four walls open to the elements will lose hundreds of pounds worth of heat each year, and this can easily be reduced to virtually nothing with cavity wall and also loft insulation. In fact, you can often recoup any installation costs within the first year just by cutting your heating bills. As well as the economical factor, this type of insulation is also safe to install, it often comes with a 25 year guarantee, it reduces CO2 emissions from your home and it adds value to your property should you decide to sell it.

The Cons
After researching a number of cavity wall insulation websites and forums it would seem that there are very few, if any, drawbacks to this type of insulation providing it is installed properly. Occasionally there have been reports of mould forming around the ceilings close to the exterior walls however these often seem to be due to a problem with the installation contractor and not the actual insulation material. If gaps are left in the wall then moisture can accumulate and mould can form but as long as a sufficient amount of insulating material is injected then there is very rarely a problem.

With this information in mind, it seems that cavity wall insulation is a must for saving money. It can be fitted in a day with no fuss and no mess and if you do apply for a grant, you can often get the entire house done for a very modest price, if not absolutely free.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock

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