How can I increase the insulation in my home?

Choosing to insulate your home is a smart investment which can pay itself off in around 3-5 years. Home insulation can drastically reduce energy losses in both summer and winter and can cut your energy bills by up to half. Insulating your home is best done during the construction phase or during a major renovation project. Although retrofitting insulation is possible, it is somewhat more difficult, and your options may be limited. If you are looking to add to your energy savings and already have insulation, there are ways to further insulate your home. Increasing the insulation in your home can be as easy as increasing the R-value of your insulation or sealing air draughts.

1. How to insulate my home during construction?

Firstly, there are four main areas of a home to insulate. These include; external and internal walls, ceiling, underfloor and between storeys in a multi-storey dwelling. We recommend that you insulate all areas of your home. Before purchasing your home insulation, decide on which R-value you would like to install. The R-value is a measure of the thermal resistance in an insulation batt, so the higher the R-value the greater the insulating capabilities. You may need to obtain a minimum energy rating for your new home, which means your may need choose a minimum insulation R-value for the various areas of your home

2. DIY install insulation project

Usually, professional installers can install your insulation for you. However, if you choose to install the insulation yourself, we recommend you visit our DIY insulation videos page on our website for more information and tips.

3. How to insulate my home after it has been built?

Increasing the insulation in your existing home can be done by adding ceiling and underfloor insulation where there is appropriate access to these areas. If you don’t already have ceiling or underfloor insulation, installing even a low R-value will considerably improve the indoor temperature of your home. If you already have ceiling insulation its worth taking a look at its condition and deciding whether you should replace it or top it up for extra thermal resistance. Ensure that any existing home insulation is not wet, moist or mouldy as this will compromise its insulating performance.

4. Don’t forget to insulate your loft or attic

It’s easy to install attic insulation yourself and you could save yourself 1 tonne of carbon dioxide a year! A properly insulated attic could save you between 10 to 30 percent off your energy bills. Over time, this adds up to be huge savings. We recommend using glasswool insulation and installing a minimum of R2.5.

5. How to insulate my home without insulation?

Whether you have a new home or an existing home there are other ways to insulate your home. Listed below are a few examples of how to reduce air draughts and energy loss through unexpected places in your home.

6. Make your home airtight – check doors, windows and flooring.

Ensure your home is draught-free and that you are not losing energy through cracks around doors, windows or through the floor. Sealant strips can be used around door frames. For gaps in windows and flooring, patch it up with putty or sealer.

7. Insulate around plumbing pipes

Insulating hot water pipes can save you money on energy costs by preventing heat loss to the surrounding air. Most common materials used are flexible foam, and foam-foil pipe insulation. Another benefit to insulating plumping pipes is that it can dampen noises such as the sound of trickling and clunking in your pipes. 

8. Consider double glazed windows

Installing double glazed windows is a great investment! It can save you energy and reduce noise transfer from outside to inside your home. The sealed air gap between the two glass panes acts as an extra layer of insulation and reduces heat loss in winter and heat gains in summer. We recommend spacing of 10 to 20mm between the two panes of glass.

9. Use window coverings such as curtains

Keeping curtains or shutters closed in winter can prevent heat from escaping and prevent air draughts. Installing shutters can be beneficial to keep the warmth out during summer and the warmth in during winter.

10. Put a covering around your hot water tank

By placing a wrapping around your hot water tank, you could cut heat loss by 75%. We recommend a covering of at least 80mm thick for optimal results.