Where Do I Start with Home Insulation?

If you know your home needs better insulation but aren't sure where heat is escaping, thermal imaging can be a useful starting point. It can show temperature differences across your property, highlighting areas that may need a closer look before deciding what insulation work may be needed.

This can be particularly helpful if your home feels cold despite having heating and insulation in place, or if you are unsure which part of the property needs attention.

Where Is Your Home Losing Heat?

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that around 25% of heat can escape through the roof in an uninsulated home, with around 33% escaping through the walls and 10-20% through the floor. Energy Saving Trust

However every property is different. The age and construction of the building, the insulation already in place and its condition can all affect where heat is lost.

You may have good loft insulation but still have areas of heat loss elsewhere. Your cavity walls may already contain insulation, but its condition could need checking. Insulation may also be missing in areas that aren't obvious during a standard inspection.

Looking at the property first can help you work out where further checks may be useful.

Where Does Thermal Imaging Come In?

Thermal imaging uses infrared technology to show temperature differences across a property. These images can highlight areas that may need further attention, including possible heat loss, missing insulation, draughts or moisture related issues.

For example, a difference in temperature across part of a wall could indicate an area worth examining more closely. Similar differences around the ceiling or loft space may prompt a closer look at the insulation there.

Thermal imaging can show you where there may be an issue, but it cannot tell you exactly what insulation work your property needs. A closer assessment of the existing insulation can then provide more detail and help establish what needs attention.

Could Your Loft Insulation Need Attention?

If thermal imaging highlights a potential issue around the roof or ceiling, the loft is an area worth checking.

A loft insulation survey looks at the insulation already in place, the condition of the loft space and ventilation. This gives you more detail about the existing insulation and its condition.

Ignite Property Group installs Knauf loft insulation as part of our home insulation services.

If you are looking for loft insulation, you can book a free survey with us to help establish the condition of your existing insulation before any work is carried out.

What About Cavity Wall Insulation?

The walls can be another area to investigate, particularly if your property has cavity walls.

Thermal imaging can show temperature differences across walls, which may highlight areas worth examining further. A cavity wall insulation survey can then assess what is already inside the wall and its condition.

Ignite Property Group installs EPS bonded bead insulation into cavity walls and can assess existing cavity wall insulation. If you are looking for cavity wall insulation, you can book a free survey with us to help establish the condition of your existing insulation before any work is carried out.

Home Insulation Services Across the South

If you are looking into home insulation and are unsure where to start, Ignite Property Group can help. We provide thermal imaging surveys, loft and cavity wall insulation and new build snagging across Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Surrey and Dorset.

If you already know which area of your property needs attention, you can find out more about our services or book a free survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need thermal imaging before insulation?

Not necessarily. If you already know your loft or cavity wall insulation needs checking, you may be able to start with the relevant insulation survey. 

Thermal imaging can be particularly useful when you are unsure where heat is being lost, or when your home feels cold despite having heating and insulation in place. It can also be used alongside other property inspections to provide more information about areas that may need attention.

Can thermal imaging show missing insulation?

Thermal imaging can show temperature differences across a property that may indicate areas of missing insulation or possible heat loss. A thermal image does not confirm exactly what is causing the difference, so further inspection may be needed.

Can thermal imaging be used for both loft and cavity wall insulation?

Yes. Thermal imaging can be used to look at temperature differences around different parts of a property. If an area around the roof or ceiling needs checking, this could lead to a closer look at the loft insulation. Temperature differences across walls may indicate that the cavity walls need further investigation.

What happens after a thermal imaging survey?

The findings can help identify areas that may need further attention. Depending on what is found, this could mean looking more closely at the existing insulation in your loft or cavity walls or carrying out another property inspection.

Can thermal imaging help if my home feels cold?

It can. If your home feels cold despite having heating and insulation in place, thermal imaging can show temperature differences that may help identify areas of possible heat loss.