insulation

[Morrisonker]

this is similar to DannyK's question but I'm not sure about the particulars. Basically my boyfriend and I have just had to pay an *huge* electricity bill , nearly �300 for 3 months. We've got panel heaters and single glazing in the bedroom and living room, where we spend most our time, and the heaters were on most of the time throughout winter. Believe me, it was pretty much essential.

What can we do about insulation? We're on the middle floor and at the end of a terrace so there are 3 outside facing walls which as far as I know haven't got insulation. I know it sounds stupid but how much disruption would getting the walls insulated cause? Do they have to tear down all the walls or do they stick it in through a wee hole? And will it make much of a difference when I haven't got central heating or double glazing?

[Markandshez]

Talk to your council - if you persist you will find that they have a "pot of gold" to help you. All councils are targetted to reduce un-insulated properties and it doesn't matter whether you are on benefits or not (although if you are you will go the top of the list, but don't get me started on that one)

Most of your heat will be lost to the top floor, so you must make sure they are insulating or a lot of your work wil be wasted.

[stanleyman]

Your heating bills are high mainly because you are using the most expensive fuel and especially if it is all on standard rate. I presume you live in a block of flats and one flat may be problematic to insulate just on its own, depending on the structure and who owns it. Cavity wall insulation could simply all end up downstairs!

The best way would be to dryline the outer walls with insulation behind it and then fit gas central heating or at least night storage heaters if the flat is only small, to reduce the heating costs to about one third which could cut your overall electricty bill by half. If you rent the flat it may pay you to simply move to somewhere with central heating and lower bills.

[raysparx]

Probably worth having the outside walls dry lined and insulated this will make a lot of difference Good Luck