Why does your home have Cavity Wall Insulation?

The Story of Cavity Wall Insulation

Cavity Wall Insulation is defined as the insertion of an insulating material into an empty cavity (the space between the inner and outer walls) of a house, providing a thermal barrier between the outside and the cosy indoors. There are various benefits of Cavity Wall Insulation, and of course, a notable number of disadvantages and potential problems (if you don’t know, get to know on our recent blogs here!), but let’s get into the real reason millions of homes have Cavity Wall Insulation installed…

Why do millions of homes have Cavity Wall Insulation already installed?

The main, and not surprising reason, that so many homes have Cavity Wall Insulation installed is because the cost of having it installed was/is funded by major energy providers across the United Kingdom, regardless of the Insulation company hired to install it. With no surprise, this came as a response to intense government pressure, caused by rising energy bills and the financial hit this had on homeowners and renters across the country, as well as environmentally related government initiatives that have come into play over the years. Consequently, energy companies and suppliers are under pressure to reach a specific number of insulated homes, if they hope to afford a hefty government fine.

Examples Government Initiatives linked to Cavity Wall Insulation:
There’s more where this comes from too!

1. 1995 Kyoto protocol – An environmental initiative committed to reduce greenhouse gases.
2. 2008 Carbon Emissions Reduction Target – a five-year commitment to reduce CO2 made by energy firms.
3. 2008, 2010, 1011 Energy Act.
4. 2013 Green Deal – an energy efficiency scheme paid for by the reduction in future heating bills.
5. 2015 ECO2 And Also More Recent ECO3 ECO4– the energy company’s obligation to provide £1.3 billion worth of energy saving funding every year, until 2017.

Why are there so many problems with Cavity Wall Insulation?
Especially if there is pressure for it to be installed…

As you can imagine, with a risk of fines and targets to be met, there was a rush from energy suppliers across the country to ensure the necessary number of homes had Cavity Wall Insulation installed. Although, anything done too quickly is rarely done properly… along with incompetent surveyors and installers.

Let’s look at the facts:
13.4 million Homes in the United Kingdom have been insulated with Cavity Wall Insulation
3.4 million of these homes have been insulate since 2008
With an abundance of homes being installed with Cavity Wall Insulation in a rush, many of these jobs haven’t necessarily been done properly or otherwise are not maintained and checked over as needed. As beneficial as Cavity Wall Insulation can be, if it is not fitted properly, it largely increases the risk of Cavity Wall related issues, such as damp. Not to mention the somewhat inevitable issues that can arise related simply to the weather and structural properties of any home… but if the targets are being met and the fines avoided, problem solved right?

With the issues related to Cavity Wall Insulation only becoming more common, it is somewhat clear that the consequences of rushed jobs and natural wear and tear are coming into play. So, pay attention to your home, know the signs of failing Cavity Wall Insulation, you can read more about this here.

What to do if your Cavity Wall Insulation is failing?

If you are worried that your Cavity Wall Insulation is failing, or other related issues, then we at CavClear are here to help.

Our team of cavity wall specialists and damp-proofing specialists can provide an assessment, quote, and any other information you may need to determine if you should proceed with Cavity Wall Insulation removal.

CavClear specialise in providing a prompt, cost-effective and friendly solution to removing CWI and related issues. Our team of fully accredited and qualified professionals will ensure your property is in the safest of hands.

Don’t let the issue get out of hand… Get in touch with our friendly team by calling 0333 220 2463 or contact us.