Cavity insulation

[DP]

Excuse the stupid question, my house is not insulated at present and the cold callers are doing the rounds

I have some concerns answers to which would be well appreciated.
Is there any health risk associated with material that might be used ( wife is asthmatic)
Long warranty and paper it us written on
What is the preferred insulation if I decide to go for it

TIA

 

[tony1851]

Some people are happy with it and have had no problems; others regret it and cite damp issues.

Much depends on your degree of exposure, the standard of construction of your walls, the quality of the brick and the type of fill.

One thing is almost certain: the 'surveyor' who comes on behalf of the company to check your wall for suitability willl say that it's OK.

Do a search on Google and decide for yourself. Personally, I wouldn't have it done; there are more cost-effective and less risky methods of insulation, eg additional loft insulation.

 

[JohnD]

I have been very pleased with mine. The cost was low and the results very good. The house stays warm a long time after the heating has gone off, and the bills are lower.

The people who have problems usually result from damaged or faulty walls where gaps and cracks in brickwork or render, or leaking gutters and downpipes, make the wall wet; or if you are in an exposed coastal or mountain area and the wall suffers from frequent driving rain and does not dry out. It is the installing company's responsibility to check for these. In very rare circumstances where they have installed it wrongly and caused problems, they can be forced to vacuum out the insulation at their expense.

I avoid door to door salesmen. Check on the website of the gas and electricity companies, they usually have subsidised prices, and are most unlikely to run off with your money or go bust leaving a worthless guarantee.

If your loft insulation is not up to standard they will probably offer to top it up as well, and possibly to insulate pipes. But these are easy DIY jobs.

Do not provide your details to any salesman or they will register you as their customer for subsidy purposes to prevent any other company getting you.