FEATURE: ENERGY SAVING


INSULATING A surge


fter contemplating one of the hottest summers on record, it feels almost counter-intuitive to turn our thoughts


to the imminent cold of the coming winter. But, with the extraordinary increases in energy costs, the subject is already unavoidable as we seek to minimise the costs of heating our homes.


Insulate to save money – but stay ventilated The Energy Saving Trust (https:// energysavingtrust.org.uk/ advice/roof-and-loft-insulation/) estimates that a quarter of all generated heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home: therefore, loft insulation represents the low hanging fruit of home heating (and carbon) reduction as its one of the easiest, fastest and most cost-effective measures that can be taken. With the average annual heating bill now predicted to


this year and next,


many customers will be planning to install, or upgrade, their loft insulation, but, at the same time, it is essential that they are aware of the potential problems


inadequate attic ventilation can cause – problems that can be exacerbated by loft insulation.


Storing the Christmas lights may be storing up problems Many of us use our attics for storing Christmas


decorations,


family mementoes and all those other things which we know will definitely come in useful – one day. Unfortunately, this can also mean we are storing up problems, too, as existing air grilles and vents


can become blocked by


storage boxes, as well as the installation of new, or upgraded, loft insulation. Blocked vents will result in reduced air flow, potentially leading to the build-up of condensation which, in turn, can cause mould spores to develop (and all of the associated health


www.diyweek.net


AN ATTIC FOR THE WINTER


Your customers should watch out for condensation in their attic, as damp Christmas decorations might be the least of their problems as winter sets in. Insulating the loft space properly is also an essential way to reduce heat loss and save on energy costs, but allowing adequate ventilation is also a vital to stop the build up of condensation.


risks that can result), rot damage to roof timbers, and damage to the insulation itself, reducing its effectiveness.


that


Condensation occurs when warm air hits cold surfaces. Loft insulation, whilst undoubtedly a good thing, can actually exacerbate this in the roof space by retaining the heat in the house below. Of course, we want this, but it does mean that the roof space surfaces can be colder, making


the condensing effect


greater. Ventilation is the key to the problem. A correctly ventilated roof will ensure that there is a plentiful exchange of fresh air and that any water vapour escapes the roof space before it has a chance to condense and cause problems. At the time of their construction, our homes would have had sufficient roof


space ventilation, but,


many cases, the increased levels of insulation have changed this, especially so in the case of older properties.


Unfortunately, as far as lofts


are concerned, when it comes to identifying potential problems, the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’


applies all too often. For many of us, visits to the roof space are infrequent at best – perhaps only once a year to check on pipes and insulation, or just to retrieve the Christmas decorations. Therefore, as we head into autumn, it


is


important to check that lofts are adequately ventilated and take precautionary action if necessary.


New retrofit ventilation system can be installed from inside the roof space Thankfully, if you do discover that you need additional roof space ventilation, don’t panic:


it’s not in


necessarily the costly and time- consuming task it once was, involving scaffolding and external works, tile replacements, etc. Many homeowners will find that they can now install additional vents from inside the roof space. Most felt- or membrane-lined roofs can accommodate KimaAir vents. These


simple and easy


to install units can be fitted by any competent DIYer and are now available from merchants and specialist roofing suppliers (including online) throughout the


UK. In order to find out how easy KimaAir vents are to fit, why not click through to YouTube and watch this short two-minute video which can be found here: https:// youtu.be/c1-y0NPIiN0.


More information…


The new KimaAir Inside-Out Roofing Vent has been designed to retrofit from inside the roof space, doing away with costly and time- consuming external works. The KimaAir Inside-Out is highly economical and can be installed in minutes by just one person. Take a look at the installation video to see how much time anyone can save on their next retrofitting roof ventilation project.


The KimaAir Inside-Out is available


across www.kimaroof.dk


Europe, or


visit email UK@kimaroof.dk for more details. OCTOBER 2022 DIY WEEK 27


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