If your home has poor insulation, you could face a few expensive problems such as consistently high heating bills and potentially more significant damage if your home is not properly protected against the cold weather. Here are some common signs that your home may be under-insulated.
Higher energy bills
Higher energy bills are the tell-tale sign that your home has inadequate insulation. Well-insulated homes are much better at retaining heat, meaning you don’t need to put the heating on as often throughout the year, and when you do, just having it on for a short while will keep your home warm for longer.
The temperature drops rapidly after heating is turned off
While the temperature will eventually start to drop even in well-insulated homes, if it begins to drop rapidly as soon as the heating is turned off, then this is usually a sign of poor insulation, because heat is escaping from somewhere.
Damp patches and mould
Well-insulated homes are much less prone to damp and mould because the temperature is kept much more consistent, and there is a much better thermal barrier between the inside and outside of the property, particularly in the cold months. If you notice patches of damp or mould around your home or even just in one room, it is likely due to poor insulation.
Drafts and cold areas
If you can feel a draft anywhere in your home (with the windows closed), this is a sure sign of poor insulation. Even noticeable cold areas in specific rooms or parts of the house are signs that something is wrong or there is a gap in the thermal barrier protecting your home from external conditions.
Fluctuating temperatures
If a home is well insulated, it should keep a relatively stable temperature throughout, even when it is cold outside. If the temperature in your home fluctuates throughout the day or in response to a drop in temperature outside, then you probably have poor insulation.
Different temperatures in different rooms
If you have the radiators turned off in certain rooms and on in others, then there will be a discrepancy between the rooms, but when the heating is off, all the rooms in your house should be a consistent temperature.
Cold floors, ceilings and walls
Just as with cold spots, you should look out for cold floors, ceilings, and walls within your home. All of these surfaces should be ambient to the touch, and if you notice they are cold, it is likely a sign of poor insulation, either in your walls or the roof.
Having poor insulation can be costly in a number of ways, but if you invest in a good insulation system such as external wall insulation, then you can save up to 50% on your annual heating bills, and your home will be better protected against the effects of adverse weather, such as damp and mould which can cause damage to the property.
If you think you may need a better insulation system, then please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.