Install Ceiling Insulation Batts and Beat the Winter Blues

Winter is here and it’s time to pull out the draft stoppers, hot water bottles and woollen socks. Most importantly, however, it’s time to install ceiling insulation batts if your home is under insulated. Uninsulated ceilings account for up to 50% of heat losses in winter. The potential to save on energy bills is huge if your ceiling is currently not fitted with batt insulation.

Slot the Batt Insulation Between the Ceiling Joists

Practically anybody who is reasonably fit is able to install their own batt insulation. Simply follow the manufacturers’ instructions and take care to install the insulation correctly. Don’t leave any gaps and don’t compress the ceiling batts. Squashing the insulation into place reduces the number of air pockets within the ceiling batts and this affects the performance r-value. Rather use less insulation and let it expand fully.

Stay Safe When Installing Ceiling Insulation Batts

When working in the roof cavity, it’s important to use the right PPE and to work safely. Wearing a dust mask and gloves is recommended. Most installers wear pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid direct skin contact with the glasswool insulation. Never step directly on the ceiling as it’s probably just made of a thin layer of plasterboard and you could easily step right through it. Walk on the ceiling joists as you move around the roof cavity. Stay clear of exposed electrical wiring and light fittings.

Engage the Whole Family and Make a Strategic Plan

The key to high energy savings is a consistent approach and a concerted effort. One family member shutting the door behind them isn’t going to help much if the rest of the family leaves it open, allowing the hard-earned heat to escape. Sit down together with the energy bill and get each member to suggest something they can do to reduce energy consumption and lower the next bill.

Adopting a Wholistic Approach to Energy Savings

While insulation has the biggest impact on energy consumption by far, there are other ways to conserve energy. Every action in itself may not yield amazing results, you’d be surprised how much you can save through all these adaptions combined. Turn off lights and fans that aren’t necessary. If don’t like coming home to a dark house, buy a timer for your living room lamp and set it to turn on just before you come home. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use or invest in an energy saving power board. Target your heating to the rooms that are used and close off unused rooms.

More Tips to Save on Your Energy Bill

Close curtains overnight to retain the heat you generated during the day. Make sure you open them during the day to let in direct sunlight; solar energy is free. Defrosting your meat? Think ahead and take it out of the freezer in the morning rather than defrosting it in the microwave. For some areas, electricity is cheaper overnight. This can be a great time to wash your clothes and run the dishwasher.