Spend some money to save money

Forking out to insulate or re-insulate your home may be inconvenient to your bank balance, but a well-insulated home requires 45 per cent less power to both cool and heat than a poorly insulated one, and that means you save money on electricity bills.

It’s also good for the environment – the less power you use, the smaller your carbon footprint will be.

Insulation can be a multi-step process depending on the type, size and age of your home, so while you’re well and truly able to inspect your current insulation and its condition, it’s always best to get a qualified insulation tradesman to give you some expert advice and to ensure and new insulation is installed in accordance with the relevant Australian standards and the Building Code of Australia.

What will I need and where does it go?

There are two common types of insulation. The first is bulk, which is sold as batts, boards or rolls and is made from a variety of products such as glass wool, polyester, natural wool or recycled paper. These are commonly found in the ceiling, between walls where there is a timber frame construction as opposed to brick, and is most often used in cooler areas to keep the heat in.

The second type is called reflective insulation to deflect heat made from aluminium and used with plastic. These act as shades in hotter climates.

DIY or call in the experts?

You can buy insulation bats from local suppliers and do it yourself, although it is quite a demanding and particularly challenging task.

If you do decide to go it alone, you’ll need to understand a little more about how heat travels within a home and the importance of the R-Value. This is the measurement of an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow (ie not let heat escape) – the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.

The type of insulation you choose, its density and thickness all play a part in determining the R-value, especially if there are multiple layers. Installing it incorrectly by damaging or compressing the insulation or leaving gaps between the batts can drop the R-Value.

An insulation contractor will be able to determine how much insulation you require for your home and the climate in which you live.

The cost and length of time it will take to install insulation in a home or to replace existing insulation that has become old and tired depends on the access to the ceiling and inner walls – and the level of renovation you are prepared to undertake.

Other ways to insulate your home

There are plenty of inexpensive ways to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and complement your insulation project.

Gaps in your floors, window seals and even your exhaust fans can allow cool or hot air to leak out – or get in. You can buy automatic closing mechanisms to put over exhaust fans and vents or perhaps a cover. An electrician may offer expert advice here.

Give your home a crack audit – it’s not as racy as it sounds – by looking for gaps around doors, windows, skirting boards, skylights, cornices and architraves. Use gap filler from your local hardware store to plug the holes. If the gap is too large, try polyurethane expanding foam to stop air leaks.

If there is a sizeable gap under your front door, attach a flexible rubber strip to keep the air out or buy a “door snake” to stop draughts.

Insulating your home is the best way to live a greener life and be kinder to your bank balance! It can be a fiddly project to undertake but, once it’s complete, your insulation will serve you well for many years to come.

To find an insulation expert in your area, use the Yellow Pages.