Insulation is an essential part of many homes in the UK and is designed to keep your home warm in winter and prevent heat from getting in during the summer. Roughly 15 million homes in the UK have insulation in their walls and there are plenty of reasons for this. Some of the main benefits of having insulation in your home include:
- Cheaper energy bills due to more heat staying in, which is important because of the current cost of living crisis
- Less noise from outside the home
- Can improve the resale value of your property
If you want to learn more about insulation and how it works, this is the guide for you. Read on to find out more.
How does insulation work?
Most insulation materials reduce and slow down the conductive and convective heat flow as well as reflect external heat to reduce heat gain. A simple way to explain how this is possible is that the insulation traps air within the material so that it can’t pass through.
How is insulation installed?
Once youbuy your insulation from a reputable supplier, you’ll need to get it installed. You can either have it fitted by a professional or do it yourself by following these instructions:
- Clean your walls
- Unroll your insulation and cut to the right size for the wall cavity
- Push the insulation into the cavity
- Secure the insulation to the wall using an industrial-sized stapler
Types of Insulation
You’ll have a range of choices when picking your insulation and here are some of the most common types:
Blanket batts and rolls –This is one of the most common types of insulation and is a roll made up of mostly fibreglass or mineral wool.
Concrete block insulation –These are concrete blocks that have cores filled with insulation.
Foam board –This type of insulation is made of a dense foam core and can be laminated on both sides. Foam board is known to be a reliable option that continuously protects your home from the elements.
Technology and energy efficiency in insulation
New technological advancements are improving insulation too. One of the more recent developments is thermal insulation technology, which is used to improve the energy efficiency of a building. It does this by preventing greater amounts of heat gain and loss than more traditional forms of insulation.
Insulation is known to be extremely environmentally friendly and makes your home more energy-efficient, which can help you reduce your carbon footprint. This is because it should help you reduce heat loss, so you won’t need to put your heating on as much and your gas consumption should be lower.
