An insulation manufacturer is warning of unexpected consequences from insulating a property to make it more energy efficient.
William Bown, the head of SuperFOIL Insulation, says having a well insulated home can reduce heating bills and your carbon footprint - but without adequate ventilation it can lead to condensation, mould and even structural problems..
Bown comments: “Most people are aware that they need to have good, effective insulation in their homes to make it more efficient but this needs to work hand-in-hand with ventilation. You need to keep the heat but let the air flow.
“Failing to strike a good balance between the two can lead to unhealthy conditions within the home, such as contaminated air, mould, damp and potentially even structural damage if things are left untreated.
“Draughts, vents and open windows do let out a lot of warmth but you don’t have to choose between being chilly at night or waking up to beads of condensation on your windows.
“Modern ventilation systems mean it is possible to have a constant supply of fresh air without losing the heat and undoing all the good your insulation does.”
And Joe Murray, business development executive at sister company Ventilation Megastore, adds: “If you’re wondering why you’re seeing more condensation on your windows, it’s probably because you’ve closed off the draughts and insulated your home better to cut down your energy bills. Although this was absolutely the right thing to do, you have to make sure that fresh air can get in and contaminated air can get out.
“Opening windows and trickle vents as well as installing and using extractor fans can make a big difference. But if you want to keep the heat in, you’ll need an MVHR system which stands for mechanical ventilation heat recovery.
“These units draw in air from outside which is then filtered and warmed by the humid or contaminated air it extracts. It means you can have the best of both worlds, with a home filled with fresh air that also retains heat and saves energy.
“On top of that, they also remove dust, pollen and airborne spores from your home without letting any pollutants inside - making them perfect for people with asthma or hay fever and helping to stop coughs and colds from spreading.”
* Ventilation Megastore and SuperFOIL Insulation are owned by the Boulder Group *
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Sensible advice. I can bet the eco zealots don’t listen 🤷♂️
Agreed. Insulate walls, two layers of Rockwool in the loft and then a basic Nuaire Heat PIV mechanical ventilation unit in hallway ceiling. Simple and common sense. It’s amazing that some energy wasteful Luddite investors still haven’t upgraded their rental units to a ‘real world’ specification.
See what you have done? You have set Gibbo off again. He really believes that insulting landlords is the best way to win them over.
Wrong way, Gibbo. Go back to charm school.
Oh Mr Annoying please change the record and show some respect. Are you one of these eco zealots?
@ Gibbo - you are like a broken record with your PIV etc. Makes me ROFL.
There exists a fine line with EPC A and B and the build up of condensation. As far as I'm aware no in-depth studies of room air quality have been made of EPC A and B properties where insulation is excellent but windows remain closed throughout winter, bar open trickle vents. My suspicions are that allergens from dust mites, cockroaches, mammals (including wild rodents and pets), and fungi are rife in many EPC 'A' and 'B' properties during winter causing multiple diseases.
A large national study in the United States showed that more than 90% of bedrooms had 3 or more detectable allergens and over two thirds had at least one allergen at elevated levels. Build up of dust is inevitable where insulation is not properly balanced with fresh clean air. Bedrooms are considered a central site of exposure. Not only the time spent in bed but also the close proximity of allergen in the air and bedding that damage a person’s respiratory system over time. Studies also note that a significant airborne particles, which are resuspended by human movements in bed, can be inhaled during sleep. Several studies have linked bedroom allergen exposures to allergic sensitization and disease morbidity.
There is a need for a closer look at the science of EPC 'A' and 'B' with respect to health of the property occupant. MVHR and other similar systems are an obvious way forward.
Or perhaps having the bedroom window open a tiny bit and that draft under the door isn't such a bad thing after all.
Hmm, I thought there would be an expensive solution to the problem, hey ho!
Insulation. I had a house which was empty for a year, no heat no ventalation & no people and then no mould. I have read that most of the dust in a house is from human skin cells. So it seems that a good dose of humans and breathed out water vapour and a bit of heat helps other mouldy life.
Another self promoting advertising article. Clearly there is no ‘complete solution’ no matter what is invested.
I've used very cheap constant running fans in landing ceilings with success
@Andrew T - did you go to a mtg in a pub in our mutually local town today. Just asking on the off chance as there was a chap there and after the fact I wondered if it could have been you?
No sorry was unable to
Ah OK - the reason I asked was there was a smartly dressed chap sitting at the meeting drinking orange juice and after the mtg it occurred to me it might have been you. If it had been you I would have felt a bit bad at not taking the opportunity to buy you a drink and chat. Hopefully the recovery is going well and you will be back at your local and allowed a beer or two before too long! Regards
Thank you Catherine the recovery is going really well I'm doing rehab at Long Stratton village hall every Tuesday now to build my strength back up
The other issue of course that was highlighted in the press recently was that very well insulated homes, whilst energy efficient in the winter are almost uninhabitable in the summer unless you fit air con, so essentially using more energy in the summer than winter and potentially more in a year than previously. So the irony is the carbon footprint of the super insulated house could actually be greater than one that isnt.
Anecdotally I see this all the time. As I write, I look at a neighbour of mine through the window with most of his windows open on a not so cold but not warm February afternoon. About 5 years ago he did a barn conversion and went super super max on the insulation, floors, walls, foam, triple glazed, you name it. He never puts the heating on ever, so that has worked, but by early Spring they are already starting to overheat and reaching for the aircon that goes constantly from March through to October. Candidly, he wishes he hadnt been quite so thorough and misses his drafty old house that he mostly heated in winter with an aga anyway. Big carbon own goal on this house and many others like it, but I guess they will get an A**** EPCEER in spite of their extra carbon usage.
Hopefully a good set of solar panels would be enough to power the aircon in the summer?
MVHR for £10k, I'll take three!
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