Free cavity wall insulation could save you £395 on your energy bills

Why do I need cavity wall insulation?

If your home was built after the 1920’s there is a high chance that it has got cavity walls.

It was only in the 1990s that homes started to be built with insulation within the cavity at the time of construction. If your home was built before then you may not have any insulation at all.

Around a third of heat lost in a home is via uninsulated walls. Figures from the Energy Saving Trust show that you could make significant savings by insulating your walls – around £395 for a typical gas heated semi-detached house.

What is cavity wall insulation?

There are a couple of different types of cavity wall insulation used, however, the one we use involves the injection of graphite enhanced polystyrene beads into the gap between the inner and outer walls.

By filling the gap between the two walls heat loss through the wall is slowed, resulting in a warmer home for you. By having a warmer home you will also reduce the likelihood of condensation and mould on the walls.

The polystyrene beads also means that the cavity can continue to work in the way it was originally intended. This means that any moisture which finds its way into the gap is able to safely wick away and not reach the inside of your home.

All cavity wall insulation completed by GRS Insulation comes with a 25 year insurance backed guarantee for peace of mind.

How do I know if I’ve got a cavity wall?

If you can see the brickwork pattern on the outside of your home, have a look at the pattern of bricks.

If you only see long bricks in an even pattern, it’s likely you have got cavity walls.

If, however, you have an alternating patter of long and short bricks, it is likely that you have got solid walls.

If the brickwork has been covered up, you can also tell by measuring the thickness of the wall from a window opening. If the wall is more than 26cm thick then it probably has a cavity, but, if it’s thinner – usually around 22cm or 9 inches – then it’s probably solid.

Stone walls will usually be much thicker.

If you’ve got solid walls – or one of the other types of walls, such as timber frame – we can still help you with a solid wall insulation grant for internal wall insulation or external wall insulation.

Ventilation

When you install insulation you are reducing the amount of air that can circulate. Poor ventilation in a home can lead to condensation forming which can cause mould and damp patches to appear.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen we will bring your homes ventilation up to the latest standards and install additional ventilation where required as part of the ECO4 grant.

Do I qualify for a free insulation grant?

To qualify for a free insulation grant, you (or your tenant if you are a landlord), must be in receipt of one of the benefits listed below:

I’m not receiving one of these benefits, can I be helped?

Up to 50% of energy efficiency measures installed in England, Wales and Scotland can be completed through the ECO4 Flex scheme and is for households whose combined gross income is below £31,000 per year or if you have certain health conditions which would make you vulnerable to the cold.

The ECO4 Flex scheme is administered by Local Authorities who are responsible for rolling it out in your area and they will verify your income or health eligibility. It is rolling out slowly and is expected to be fully live by April 2023.

We will check as part of your application if your area is now open for applications.

I’m a Landlord, can I get any help?

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came in to effect in April 2018 and means that all rented properties must now have a minimum energy efficiency rating of band ‘E’ unless exempted.

However, from 2025, all properties rented on new tenancies must meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band ‘C’ and properties with existing tenants must be brought up to this standard by 2028. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £30,000.

These changes are in line with the Government’s net zero emissions by 2050 targets and will also apply to properties which are being sold from 2035.

How can we help?

If your tenant is receiving one of the benefits listed above your property will be eligible for a grant to improve your property, including installing cavity wall insulation.

In fact, the ECO4 scheme says that all Band ‘E’ rated properties must reach a minimum Band ‘C’ after installation of energy efficiency measures.