FAQ´s
Q. Is the assessment free and unconditional?
Yes, although we prefer you to have a genuine interest in obtaining the work at the advertised price before applying.
Q. Can I put boards down over the 10 inches of loft insulation after the work is done?
No, it is not a good idea to compress the material. This is because it is not the material that insulates your home, but the air that it traps. Compressing the material will reduce its ability to reduce heat loss.
Q. I want to do the job myself (DIY). Can I have an insulation grant?
Unfortunately we do not provide insulation grants for DIY work.
Q. How is the Heat Project funded?
Funding comes from utility companies. Under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) all electricity and gas providers in the UK are given an energy saving target to reach based on the number of customers it has. They provide funding in the form of grants to install loft insulation and cavity wall insulation to help them reach their targets. CERT is regulated and administered by OFGEM
Q. How will my airbricks or vents be affected by cavity wall insulation?
The installers will put sleeves around any airbricks or vents to ensure that the insulation does not disrupt the flow of air.
Q. How is cavity wall insulation carried out?
The installers drill holes in the walls of your home from the outside about 1.5m apart in all directions. They then gently blow the material into the cavity which is usually a 50mm-75mm gap between the walls.
Q. What type of material is used in the loft/cavity wall insulation?
Most contractors on our scheme use mineral wool or glass fibre. However you can discuss the type of material with the surveyor when he visits.
Q. My property suffers from condensation which causes mould growth; will cavity wall insulation stop this?
If your property suffers from condensation and you have mould growth on the walls, installing cavity wall insulation will help to alleviate this problem. If you have rising or penetrating damp it would be advisable to have this problem corrected before the cavity wall insulation is installed.
Q. Can cavity wall insulation cause damp problems or damage my property?
No. An accurate assessment will highlight if your property may be vulnerable to damp – if so then we will not recommend you proceed with the insulation. However the vast majority of all properties assessed are deemed suitable for insulation and therefore will not be subject to resultant damp issues. You may be interested to hear that the EST have found that incidents of damp in filled cavities is just 3.5%, where as incidents of damp in unfilled cavities is higher, reaching 8%. The Heat Project uses only qualified assessors who can thoroughly assess your home’s suitability for insulation, and only uses accredited insulation installers, all of whom’s workmanship are covered by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency for 25 years after installation. Ultimately your Heat Project assessor will identify if you property is at risk of damp as a result of filling its cavities, and if it is deemed it may be, then insulation would not be recommended.
Q. Are exposed properties suitable for cavity wall insulation?
Yes. Properties in the UK are built in varying degrees of exposure to wind driven rain which, if the walls are insulated poorly and either no or a poor assessment is conducted by an unqualified assessor and unaccredited installer, can result in structural issues. However, the Heat Project ensures all assessors are fully qualified and conduct thorough assessments prior to install to establish the property’s form of construction including checks of its external skin, quality of construction, local exposure and state of maintenance, which if poor could lead to water penetration. If the property is deemed suitable for insulation following such robust checks, the British Board of Agrement (BBA) approved insulation materials used by the Heat Project are approved by the BBA for insulation into all exposure areas.
Q. My property was built before 1935. Can I still have the cavity wall insulation installed?
In most cases properties built before 1935 do not have a suitable cavity to accept insulation, however, it can be possible and there are instances where cavity walls have been found in properties built before 1935. The installer´s surveyor will assess the suitability of your property during a free no obligation survey.
Q. My property was built within the last 15 years. can I still have the cavity wall insulation installed?
In many cases we can insulate cavity walls in properties built up to, and including the year 2002. Properties built later than this were normally insulated to a sufficient standard during the construction process.
Q. Do you install blown loft insulation?
It may be possible under the Heat Project to have blown recycled newspaper (Cellulose) insulation installed, but it is dependant on the installers in your area and it may cost a little more. Please contact us for more information.
Q. How is loft insulation laid?
Loft insulation is laid to building regulations standards, cross-hatched, firstly between the joists and then over them at right angles up to a minimum of 250mm (approx 10")
Q. How much does loft/cavity wall insulation save?
Loft insulation saves about 25% of your heat loss or on average £205 per year on your fuel bills. Cavity wall insulation saves about 35% of your heat loss or on average £160 per year on your fuels bills.
Q. I have a semi-detached/terraced house. Can I have cavity wall insulation? Will it affect the neighbour´s property?
Yes we can insulate your walls; a special brush is used to prevent insulation spilling into your neighbour´s cavities so they are not affected
Q. I have an upstairs room in my roof that needs under-tile insulation. Can I have an insulation grant?
Unfortunately we do not give insulation grants for under-tile insulation. Please contact the Energy Efficiency Advice centre on 0800 512 012 for further advice.
Q. I have a very small loft hatch, is it still possible to install loft insulation?
Your loft hatch may need to be enlarged to enable the contractor to install the insulation. The installer may be able to provide you with a quote for the additional cost for this work.
Q. Do you install sheep´s wool or other more environmentally friendly products?
Yes you can now receive an insulation grant towards the cost of sheep´s wool and flax loft insulation although these materials are more expensive than standard materials. As an estimate you can expect to pay between £500 - £2000 extra depending on the size of your loft. See our Links page
(These products are not available for cavity wall insulation)
Q. I have bats in my loft. Can I have an insulation grant for loft insulation?
Unfortunately, bats are an endangered species and our installers are unable to carry out insulation when bats are in residence. Please contact either English Nature 01733 455 000 or the Countryside Council for Wales 08451 306 229 who will be able to guide you in this matter. See our Links page
Q. My roof is off at the moment, and the loft can be insulated from the outside only. There´s no internal access. Can I have an insulation grant?
Unfortunately the installers are not allowed to do lofts that do not have internal access.
Q. I have a flat. Can I have cavity wall insulation?
Some flats are just like houses, so they are possible to do. However, in order to complete a job on flats, all the walls need to be filled. This means that all of the residents in the block will also have to agree to the work. N.B tower blocks, custom built flats with metal frames and flats where access problems are an issue are not normally possible
Q. Will I be able to speak to a UK based call centre operative?
Yes, our call centre is UK based and uses highly trained energy advisors to assist you with your query in a clear and professional manner. Our call centre is open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am -12pm Saturdays. We also have a UK based out of hours service contactable on the same freephone number, where we can take a message for you to pass to our call centre to address during office hours.
