How to tell if your house is well insulated or not

Originally published 20 December 2019. Some figures have since changed - see our latest guides.

Homes in England and Wales spent an average of £625 a year on gas bills, a significant chunk of household expenditure. Efficient insulation is one way to keep gas consumption down, through roof and loft, cavity wall, draught-proofing, solid wall and floor insulation.

Insulation is a big investment, so you want to be sure your home actually needs it. Here are the main warning signs.

Sign 1: Draughts and cold areas

Cold draughts from outdoors are a sign your home needs better draught-proofing, such as double glazed windows, underfloor insulation and new external doors. Cheaper fixes are thick curtains, blinds and fabric draught excluders.

Sign 2: Fluctuating temperatures

If the house gets colder quickly whenever the heating is off or low, heat is escaping fast. Good insulation conserves hot air, so a fast temperature drop signals poor insulation.

Sign 3: Some rooms are colder than others

If the attic or outward-facing rooms are colder than the rest of the house, they could benefit from roof or wall insulation.

Sign 4: Interior walls are cold to the touch

Outward walls that feel noticeably cold signal a need for wall insulation. Homes built after around 1920 usually have cavities that can be filled, while older solid walls are insulated from the outside.

Sign 5: Snow and ice melt off your roof quickly

If your home is one of the first to lose settled snow or frost from its roof, heat is escaping from there.

Sign 6: Pigeons

If birds love gathering on your roof over others, it could be because it lets out the most heat. Not the most accurate test, but a hint worth a professional look.

Sign 7: Rising energy bills

Monitor your heating bills for spikes beyond normal annual rises. Compare with similar-sized homes to see if you use much more gas.

Sign 8: Ice forming inside your home

Pipes freezing or ice forming on the inside of windows is a red flag for poor insulation in the UK climate.

Sign 9: Damp from the outside

Moisture and damp coming in from outside often go hand in hand with poor insulation and weak external barriers.

If you would like advice on insulating your home, our team is happy to help.