Frequently Asked Questions : Insulation

Q. Am I eligible for this offer?

A. The energy company offers available through this website are open to homeowners or private tenants with their landlord’s permission, subject to a home survey. People living in social housing should contact their housing provider to find out more about accessing alternative insulation offers.

Q. What is loft insulation?

A. Loft insulation is a quilt of insulating material, laid down across your loft and between the joists which prevents heat loss. If you don’t have any insulation, the insulation should be laid to a depth of at least 250mm (10 inches). If there is already a small amount up there, you may only need a top-up.

Q. What is cavity wall insulation?

A. Cavity wall insulation is where the walls of your home are filled to prevent heat escaping. Most of the work involved in cavity wall insulation happens on the outside of your home, with minimal inconvenience to you. Once a survey has established that your home is suitable, a series of small holes are drilled into the mortar joints of the external brickwork. Insulating material is then blown into the cavity space through the holes until an effective heat seal is formed. The drilled holes will be refilled in a way that closely matches the existing colour and texture of your walls.

Q. How do I know if my house is likely to be suitable for cavity wall insulation?

A. Houses built between 1930 and 1990 are most likely to be suitable for this type of insulation.

Q. How much does it cost?

A. For an average 3-bedroom semi detached property - cavity wall insulation and loft insulation both cost between about £200 and £300 each. If you are on qualifying benefits, or you are over 70, you could get insulation installed for free.

Q. Am I eligible for free insulation?

A. You may be eligible for free insulation if you are either aged 70 or over, or are on one of the following qualifying benefits:

- Income Support

- Housing Benefit

- Council Tax Benefit

- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance

- Attendance Allowance

- Disability Living Allowance

- Disablement Benefit (which must include constant attendance allowance)

- War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance)

- State Pension Credit

- Child Tax Credit (where the relevant income is £15,592 or less)

- Working Tax Credit (where the relevant income is £15,592 or less)

Your energy company will be able to advise you further.

Q. What are the benefits of insulation?

A. It can help to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer , plus help you save money on your energy bills. It will also enable you to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and help you to protect the environment.

Q. How much money could I save with insulation?

A. According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation could save you up to £90 a year and loft insulation £110 a year. this means that if you install both types of insulation you could save up to £200 a year.

Q. How long will it usually take to install insulation?

A. After your chosen energy company has arranged for a surveyor to check the suitability of your home, installing loft or cavity wall insulation should only take around half a day.

Q. Will cavity wall insulation affect the appearance of my house?

A. Installers will drill small holes through the external walls which will be refilled in a way that closely matches the existing colour and texture of your walls. .

Q. Which energy companies are participating in the E-Day insulation offer

A. EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish and Southern Energy and ScottishPower are all participating in this offer.

You do not need to be a customer of these companies to access any of their E-Day insulation offers.

All of the companies E-Day insulation offers are open to everyone regardless of who supplies your energy, subject to the qualifying criteria and your home being suitable.

Q. Will my cavity wall insulation come with a guarantee?

A. Yes. Cavity wall insulation is covered for 25 years by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) guarantee.