Cavity Wall insulation

[chazza]

Has anyone had their home cavities pumped recently and did you notice much of a difference?
I live in a mid terrace so would only be getting the front and back walls pumped - do you think it would be worth my while?

[Ethel]

Yes, definitely so.

My house is a lot warmer in winter and cooler in the summer.

[terambulan]

Cavity walls are built for the purpose of air circulation between two walls of bricks. If you in-fill the cavity you remove the inner air circulation.

This leads to damp within the property as the outer wetness is blotted thru the brick/infill/inner brick walls.

[The Builder]

With all respect to Terambulan..................that was the case with clear cavities at one time. They were ventilated. but for many years, regulations have required them to be sealed to prevent the spread of fire.
Filling cavities with right product doesn't cause damp transference through "bridging". I can understand people thinking that it might, but it just doesn't happen with modern products.
As Ethel says, you will feel the difference, especially in a terrace where you have only two outside walls.......... :o)

[whiskeryron]

Could anyone explain to me why when I asked for this to be done,I was informed that as my house was built in1939 it could not be carried out '' because the walls didn't have the correct cavities''.

[ethel1512]

Had mine done some 2 months ago. Haven't noticed any difference yet. However when the firm came to do the work they asked if anyone had done a test drill as the property already had some insulation in place so they just topped it up. I would add though that as the house is rendered it is now covered in pot marks which look a bit of a mess! Whether it is worth it, only time will tell. They also installed a large air vent which now lets in cold air (something to do with CO2 they said) but this seems to make a mock of making the house warmer with insulation??

[eltelioni]

Pre-1939 houses are likely to have ties across the cavity that are inclined to corrode. Insulating the cavity will exacerbate this problem. Your house does not necessarily suffer the problem, but insulation installers will not take the risk. After the war new standards for ties were introduced. If your house is really old (like my Victorian terrace) then it will have solid walls.

[rabbitygirl]

Insulating the loft and cavity wall insulation are 2 essentials to keeping the house warm and energy costs down.

I wanted cavity wall insulation in the early 80's in a previous house, but had a lot of objection from my hubby, father in law and Uncle Tom Cobbly and all. But I had my way (ok, I usually do) and had it done with mineral wool. It cost me �300, quite a bit then. But we were in that house for 23 years, it was incredibly cosy, and saved a lot of money on heating bills.

I've just had the cavity done in my bungalow. I can feel the difference already in heat retention, particularly in one bedroom. Chatting with the surveyor he said the 'mustn't breach the cavity' objections were still there, and come mainly from builders!

Get it done. It's cheap, you will save money and not take years to recoup the cost. And ensure your loft insulation is to the max as well.