Cavity Wall Insulation
As energy costs continue to rise, Cavity Wall Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing your heating bills. If you act fast, you could also claim a Government-backed grant to cover all or most of the installation cost.
- The Green Deal will replace Grants in Autumn 2012.
- Loans will be repaid through energy bill savings.
- Free, non-repayable grants are still available now.
This is the last full Winter of Home Insulation grants!
A typical household with Cavity Wall Insulation will save up to £135 per year on energy bills. Without it, up to a third of the heat in your home will be escaping through your walls.
With energy suppliers increasing their prices by as much as 20% in 2011, Cavity Wall Insulation will help you to reduce your energy bills and stop wasting money on heating the air outside.
All private households qualify for a grant
There are two types of Cavity Wall Insulation Grants. 100% grants are available to anyone aged 70 and above, or those in receipt of certain benefits, tax credits or allowances. 40% to 70% grants are available to all other private householders. Read more about Insulation Grants.
However, time is running out to get your free Cavity Wall Insulation grant. Currently, grants are claimed by the insulation installer and do not have to be paid back. From Autumn 2012, Cavity Wall Insulation grants will be replaced by 'Green Deal' loans. The money is paid back through energy bill savings so it makes sense to claim your free grant now.
Cavity Wall Insulation
?If your home was built after 1924, your walls are likely to have an air gap called a cavity that could benefit from insulation. Wall cavity insulation is installed from the ground floor to the roof by approved professionals, resulting in big savings on your energy bills.
Most installers use Cavity Insulation made from shredded mineral wool (glass fibre) that can reduce the amount of heat escaping from your home by up to 35%. Cavity Wall Insulation saves up to £135 per year on energy bills and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 610kg.
Cavity Wall Insulation
?Recent research by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has shown that only 58% of all properties that could benefit from Cavity Wall Insulation have been insulated. Is your home amongst the remaining 42%?
The first thing to check is whether your home actually has cavity walls. Most properties built of brick from 1924 onwards are likely to have a cavity. If your property was built before 1924, it will probably have solid walls as shown below.
Another good indication of whether you have a cavity, is if the walls are at least 10" (250mm) thick. If it is less, the walls are likely to be solid.
Properties built after 1982 should not need Cavity Wall Insulation as building regulations changed to ensure it was fitted during construction.
Since Cavity Wall Insulation cannot be topped up, it is not worth applying for a grant if you think insulation has been installed in the past.
You will NOT be able to have Cavity Wall Insulation installed if:
- The property was built before 1924 or after 1982.
- You live in a flat and do not have the agreement of neighbours above and below.
- The walls have already been filled with insulation.
- There are and signs of damp on the inside or outside of the walls.
- The cavity width is less than 2" (50mm) or there is rubble present.
- The property is timber/steel framed, concrete or stone.
- Ventilation is inadequate and a vent cannot be fitted.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Questions and Answers- How long does it take to install Cavity Wall Insulation?
An averaged size property will take around two to three hours. - Do I get a guarantee?
Yes. The installer will apply for a 25 year guarantee through CIGA, the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency - Can I get Cavity Wall Insulation if I live in a flat?
The insulation must be installed from the ground floor to the roof. Each property is assessed individually for the grant so you must have the consent of any neighbours above/below you before applying. In addition, we can only process applications for a maximum of three storeys and only one property wide i.e. three dwellings. - How can I tell if my walls are already filled?
If you look closely, especially under the windows, you may be able to see where holes have been drilled and filled with mortar. These holes will normally be around the size of a 10p piece. - What if I have damp in my walls?
You will need to have the problem checked and repaired before applying for Cavity Wall Insulation through EnergyLink. A local builder may be able to help you with this. - Are there any health risks from Cavity Wall Insulation?
No. The insulation is sealed within the walls. Glass fibre is also derived from sand which fits in with the natural brick & mortar fabric of the property. - Where can I find more information?
The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) have produced a PDF fact sheet which can be downloaded from here.
Cavity Wall Insulation Grants
When you Apply Online, our form will make sure an approved Cavity Wall Insulation installer operates in your area and that grants are available for the products you are interested in. The EnergyLink form will also give you an indication of which grant you are likely to qualify for.
Once you have provided your details and submitted an application, we will forward it to an installer in your local area. They will then contact you to book a free, no-obligation survey to confirm your Cavity Wall Insulation Grant entitlement and make sure the property is suitable.
If you would like to go ahead after the survey, our installer will arrange the work. Once the insulation is installed, the installer then claims the grant amount from one of the energy companies on your behalf.
N.B. Some installers may take a deposit at survey.
no-obligation survey.
Don't Forget The Savings
Cavity Wall Insulation prevents the majority of the heat in your home from escaping. This means your heating can be turned on less often and for shorter periods which results in lower energy bills. Because less fossil fuel is being burned, Wall Cavity Insulation also substantially reduces carbon emissions.
Cavity Wall Insulation
By having your loft insulated at the same time as your cavity walls, you could more than double the savings on your energy bills.
EnergyLink can arrange for you to have a free, no-obligation survey for Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation, meaning you could save up to £310 every year on your energy costs. Read more about Loft Insulation.
- The Green Deal will replace Grants in Autumn 2012.
- Loans will be repaid through energy bill savings.
- Free, non-repayable grants are still available now.
- This is the last full Winter of Home Insulation grants!
A5 Leaflet (PDF)
Requires Adobe Reader.
