Energy Savings FAQs from energycare
What is a cavity wall?
The external wall of a house is constructed of two masonry (brick or
block) walls, with a cavity (gap) of at least 50mm between. Metal ties
join the two walls together.
How is cavity wall insulation installed?
The cavity wall is injected with insulating material by drilling
holes in the external wall, through the mortar joint. Holes are
generally of 22-25mm diameter and are 'made good' after injection. Each
hole is injected in turn, starting at the bottom.
How long does it take?
Cavity wall insulation normally takes around two hours to install,
but the time does depend on the size of the house and other factors,
such as access.
Is my house suitable?
Before the installation, Energycare will undertake an assessment of
your property to confirm that it is suitable for insulation. This
assessment may be undertaken by a surveyor or our Technician before
installation.
Do I have to do anything before the installation
and will there be
much mess?
The drilling process does create some vibration - so it would be wise
to remove ornaments, particularly on external walls, for their safety
and your peace of mind.
Our Technician will need access to all walls, so he will need to get
inside attached garages, lean-to sheds, conservatories etc. The
insulation can only be really effective if all walls are done. If you
have a wall right on the boundary, you may like to mention to your
neighbour, that the Technician will need to go onto their property.
The drilling process inevitably creates a little dust, which will be
cleared at the completion of the job. It may be wise to remove vehicles
from the drive and things close to the walls. This will also give the
Technician better access for equipment and tools.
Does the Energycare technician have
to come into my home?
Our crews must undertake checks before and after installation,
including any heating
appliances, so it is essential that they have access inside the
property.
My house is semi-detached, can you stop insulation
going into my neighbour's cavity?
Assuming your neighbour's house is not already insulated, the
Technician will insert a cavity barrier at the party wall line. This is
usually a length of bristle brush. Of course, if the neighbour's house
were to be insulated at the same time, the cavity barrier would not be
needed.
Are all the systems of insulation the same?
There are several different types of insulation:
- Bonded bead (white polystyrene beads)
- Glass wool (Yellow or white in colour)
- Rock wool (Grey/brown in colour)
- Urea formaldehyde foam (white foam)
Note: both glass wool and rock wool are known as 'mineral wool'.
Energycare's systems of CWI have been tested, assessed and approved
by the British Board of Agreement or the British Standards Institution.
All are suitable for their purpose. Except for Urea Formaldehyde foam,
the systems can be used in all parts of the UK. All systems have a
similar insulation value.
Are Energycare technicians properly trained?
All our technicians (team leaders) undergo training by the system
supplier and the installing firm to ensure they are competent in CWI and
carry a training card. Please feel free to ask to see the training card.
How do I know the walls are full?
Each system has a defined pattern of holes, which has been tested to
verify that it results in a complete fill. Most systems have an
automatic cut out, which actuates when the adjacent wall area is full.
There is tolerance in the injection pattern so that the material will
flow past the next injection hole.
Is the insulation 'dense'?
No, as the insulation is contained within a masonry wall, it doesn't
need to be 'dense'. For insulation and other purposes, a light density
is better. Before installation, the Technician will undertake a quality
test to ensure the insulation will go into the wall at the right
density. He will also note the amount of material used, to know that
sufficient insulation has been installed.
Note: Drilling a hole in the outer wall and testing the cavity fill
with a rod or pencil will not provide any meaningful information.
What about ventilators that are in the external wall?
Ventilators supplying combustion air to fuel burning appliances must
be safeguarded. Similarly ventilators at ground level that ventilate
below timber floors must be safeguarded.
Our technician will investigate them to check they are already
sleeved. If they are not, the Technician will remove them and seal
around them to stop them being blocked by the insulation. Other vents,
which may be redundant, such a cavity vents or vents that used to supply
air to open fires in bedrooms may be closed off. The Technician should
discuss these with you. Redundant airbricks may be filled.
What about filling the holes?
But my house has painted areas?
Energycare's technician will fill all the injection holes with mortar
to match the existing as closely as possible. He will use a mix that
closely matches the existing colour and texture. On pebbledash finishes,
he will apply pebbles to the surface to match the existing finish. After
weathering, the holes are difficult to see.
Normally, we will not paint the injection holes. Unfortunately, even
if the original paint is used, it may not match due to weathering. So it
may be necessary for you to consider painting the area, after the mortar
has dried.
Do I apply for the CIGA 25 Year Guarantee?
No, we submit the Guarantee application. The Guarantee is posted to
you within days of the application being received at CIGA - please keep
it safe! CIGA is non-profit distributing; its only function, is to stand
as guarantor for the promises set out in the Guarantee.
It has the resources to meet the promises made in the Guarantee. All
professional approved installing firms are members of CIGA and can apply
for a CIGA Guarantee, for properties built with traditional cavity
walls. You should insist on a CIGA Guarantee, since nothing else can
give you the level of assurance to which you are entitled.
Will my house be warmer?
Yes - if your heating is not controlled by a thermostat. However, if
you have a thermostat, it will cut out the heating at the same
temperature, so you may not notice the difference in the room with the
thermostat.
However, you should find that the temperature in other parts of your
house improves, for example, the small bedroom on the corner. With CWI,
you should find that the house holds its temperature for longer;
therefore the time between heating cycles may be longer. The result
should be a more even temperature throughout the house and a reduced
fuel bill.
Are there any maintenance or servicing requirements?
No, not to the cavity wall insulation, but normal building
maintenance is needed.
How long will the insulation last?
For the life of the building - the British Board of Agreement say so.
How does loft insulation work?
Loft insulation is installed to bring the overall level of your loft
insulation up to a depth of 250mm (10 inches). This is achieved by
laying one layer of mineral wool quilt down between the joists and one
layer at 90 degrees across the top of the joists.
If you already have some loft insulation, you may just receive one
layer on top of your existing insulation to bring the overall level up
to the recommended depth. If there are cold water tanks and/or pipes in
the loft, if required, these will be insulated to bring the insulation
up to current standards - this is to stop them from freezing in cold
weather.
The loft hatch will also be insulated with mineral wool quilt to the
same depth and the edges of the hatch will be draught proofed.
We require the loft space to be emptied of the majority of belongings
prior to us commencing work. If there is a small amount of belongings
left in the loft space, we can move this as we work. If you have loose
boards in the loft, these would need to be lifted prior to the work
being carried out.
We would recommend that you do not use the loft space for storage as
the joists are not designed to support additional weight. However, if
you do choose to store materials in the loft space, they can be placed
on the insulation material without causing damage but we suggest that
you place belongings so they rest over the joists. Energycare's loft
insulation material is non-toxic and not harmful to humans - or their
pets.
What happens if I hire Energycare to insulate my home?
Once you have signed the Quotation/Order, the surveyor will pass the
paperwork back to the office. Please ensure you keep the top white copy
for your own records. The office will then call you to arrange a
convenient time and date to carry out the installation - you will
normally be given around one weeks notice of when we can carry out the
project.
During normal operations, the maximum time you should normally wait
for the installation team would be 6 to 8 weeks. The winter period from
October to March each year is obviously pour busiest period, so the wait
may be slightly longer. However, appointments do sometimes get cancelled
and we may be able to carry out your insulation project in a shorter
timescale.
When the Energycare team arrives, they will show you their
identification and explain the work they are about to do. If you have
any queries about the work, do not hesitate to ask the crew.
How do I pay for the work?
On completion of a project, we request that you pay the Energycare
crew on the day by cheque - they will give you a hand-written receipt
and a full receipt will be sent to you by the office. If you wish to pay
by credit card, we can accept Visa and MasterCard. The easiest way to
pay by credit card is to phone our office and supply us with your card
details. A receipt will then be sent to you.
If you are having cavity wall insulation, once the works have been
completed and paid for, we send your details to the Cavity Insulation
Guarantee Agency who will issue the 25 year guarantee. The Guarantee
Agency can take up to one month to send off the guarantees during busy
times.
For more information on the systems available and grant funding, please call us on FREEPHONE 0500 828 814 or send an online enquiry