If you feel you're hitting something soft and pillowy, you've got insulation. If you immediately hit something hard, you're probably bumping into a wall stud -- try the other side, top, or bottom. If you can wiggle the skewer around and touch it to the inside face of the exterior wall -- bad news, no insulation.
Look at your property's EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
It will usually state if they are cavity or solid in structure. If you can't find your EPC at home, you can use your postcode to look it up on the Government's EPC Register.
This is another symptom of your cavity wall insulation's deteriorating health. Your boiler and radiators are working overtime to try and warm your house up, the heat wants to escape, and your insulation is allowing it! If your insulation can't even hold itself up, then there's no chance of it holding your heat in.
The simplest way is to check your brickwork for drill holes. If you notice small, evenly spaced holes that have been filled in, this is a sign that cavity wall insulation is installed.
If your walls feel cold when you touch them, then it is likely that your home is not well insulated. Fortunately, you can easily make your walls warmer by installing extra insulation and completing other home energy upgrades. This will reduce heat loss, lower carbon emissions, and save you money on utility bills.
Properties without a DPC, or where the DPC is too low (typically less than 125mm from the ground) and a French drain has not been installed. Some properties with raked mortar joints. Properties with a cavity wall under 50mm or over 150mm. Properties that have significant rubble or mortar ingress in the cavity.
You can blow spray foam or cellulose into the walls from outside. Just cut a 1 inch to 2-inch hole between the studs at the top of the wall and then spray the insulation into the hole using a hose. Replace the cutouts, fill using wood filler and then sand smooth and paint to restore your siding.
Many people, including some building professionals, believe that wall cavities should never be filled and that insulating cavity walls will inevitably lead to damp bridging. But this is simply not true. To date, around 4m UK homes have had cavity wall insulation retrofitted.
If your insulation has become wet, remove it as soon as possible and replace it with new insulation. Wet insulation can lose its effectiveness and can pose health risks.
How to detect moisture behind walls? Moisture within and behind walls can be detected with a pinless moisture meter. A non-destructive moisture meter can accurately locate and measure elevated moisture levels without the need to break the wall's surface material.
Glassfiber insulation is made from strands of glass fiber and temporarily loses its thermal resistance when it gets wet. However, if it can dry out and has not become compacted, it will retain its insulating properties. Wet insulation in a closed wall cavity will usually not rapidly dry out.
Uninsulated external walls can also cause structural damage to your home over time. When water penetrates the walls, it can freeze and expand, causing cracks and weakening the structure of the wall. This can lead to more significant problems, such as collapsing walls, which can be dangerous.
About 35% of the heat will escape through the walls and through gaps, in and around windows and doors, and about 10% of heat will disappear through the floor. Taking action to make sure your home is energy efficient has many benefits. For your pocket, for your comfort and for the environment.
Look for Signs of Installation
If you notice small, evenly placed holes on the outside brick wall, it could indicate that insulation has been installed. The best places to look are under and by the side of windows as these are commonly drilled sections when insulating a cavity wall.
You can check insulation in walls by removing an outlet cover or light switch to take a quick peek inside the wall to determine if there is any existing insulation in there. Another option is to drill a hole somewhere inconspicuous, like in the closet or under the baseboard, to take a look.
Here are some common types of cavity wall insulation and their approximate lifespan: Mineral Wool Insulation: 25 to 30 years. Foam Insulation: 20 to 25 years. Bead Insulation: 30 to 40 years.
This means that there will be a moisture build up in your walls. The moisture will transfer to your cavity insulation, and damp and mould will begin to develop inside your walls. This really does become a hindrance for you when the mould starts growing inside your home, and damages your things.
Can Cavity Wall Insulation be Topped Up? As long as the insulation within your cavity wall isn't damaged, then it can be topped up. This can be a difficult process, and unless there has been severe damage it is unlikely to offer enough of a benefit to your levels of heat loss to justify the price.
Missing insulation allows either heat or cold to infiltrate, which shows as hot or cold spots on your walls or ceiling when viewed by a thermal camera. You can easily detect areas of missing insulation by walking around your house with a thermal imager and looking for temperature differences.
If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.
In fact, adding too much insulation to your walls can lead to problems such as poor ventilation, mould growth, and condensation. This is because thicker insulation can block airflow and trap moisture, leading to indoor air quality issues and even structural damage.