Insulation

[pvr]

Trying to see if additional loft insulation is worth the effort / money etc. By the time I have added 36 low voltage caps on the ceiling to cover the lights and added the insulation over a large area, will it ever be worth it?

Currently single layer of insulation with all the gaps where the lights are.

I always think about these things just after I fill up the oil tank

[X5Sport]

It probably is as long as you are adding a decent thickness to give you say 10" or so. It just takes a while to pay for itself. As long as the other insulation like cavity and double glazing (with a decent air gap) are also in place. I think we'll be changing our 6mm timber framed DG for 20mm UPVC later this year. That'll save me painting it again too.

[pvr]

Interesting about the windows, when we moved in, I replaced all by aluminium framed DG as I wanted the thinnest frames possible (way too much plastic in the previous house). However, Mrs PVR wants to get all wooden windows now ... (last quote was 40k )

[Junkie]

Agree the payback is going to take a while, but tbh it made a big difference to the last house we were in, just prior to moving and I wanted the best score on the now defunct HIP. The upstairs radiators were turned way down and I was impressed with the additional sound proofing, it surprised me how much noise from the road past our house transmitted through the roof :-s

Anyhoo, the new gaff has thick insulation but no caps, next on the list...

[535dboy]

If you are that worried sell the Z4m and buy a 116d

[Turks]

The ceiling boxes can get a little bit expensive when you have so many lights to cover. You can make your own but I imagine you can't be bothered when it comes to making 36 of the things! I made my own and they do the job absolutely fine.

The only thing they really do is give the lamp unit an air gap from the insulation. They don't have any fire rating unless you get the Fire-Rated intumescent hoods or have Fire-Rated lamps which if you have low voltage I imagine you don't.

I insulated my loft very cheap with 250mm Insulation which was actually deeper once it finished expanding after I rolled it out! I got four huge rolls for about £40 from Wickes. The insulation is subsidised so you get it cheaper - you have to say that you are using it for a domestic property which isn't a new build and I think the max number of rolls you can have is 10. I can't remember how much is in a roll but it is about 6-8m2.

Maybe now is the time to change out all your low voltage lamps for LED? About the same cost as a Fire Hood That way you will get your savings in Electric and Heating!

The repayment time should be pretty quick for you... especially because you have oil heating and not Gas. With the price of Oil fluctuation as it does and depending on how many rolls you have to buy - I don't think it would take long to recoup £100.


Turks.

[pvr]

I may try one room with LEDs to see what they are like now. The one I have in the hall is awful at the moment as it is gostly white and no spread, but I think you have posted before about better / newer ones. Good idea as the fireproof cap is about a tenner each, so that would be £360 for the caps alone.

[Turks]

Yeah I did, here is the link...

LED Lights


I still swear by them, I have now put them in the chippy too!

My GF's mum and dad have just put a new light fitting in their bathroom and they got some LED bulbs from B & Q or something... eeek they are whiter than white and make you feel uncomfortable using the loo! The Edison ones I have are a much better temperature colour and they aren't as directional as most others because of the lens.


Turks.

[pvr]

ah yes, just re-read the thread again and will do something. The Edison seem to have held their prices, but a google shows other makes for about a fiver, but they don't have the frosted glass.

Will continue to look ...

[pvr]

Turks - did you try any of the 50W compatible units instead of the 35W versions you had before?

[AW8]

On subject of heating costs I just paid £394 for another 500 litres - price increase on oil 20% since Decemeber......I've managed to reduce my domestic oil useage albeit at cost of running portable heaters & main gas fire,(annoying the rental has gas fire and cokker yet oil heating) I am yet to forward my gas and eletric meter readings.

[pvr]

Use boilerjuice.com for oil, gets the cheapest supplier.

I paid 50p a litre last week.

[Turks]

[quote=""pvr""]Turks - did you try any of the 50W compatible units instead of the 35W versions you had before?[/quote]

Do you mean the 50w equivalent? If so then no, I was happy enough with the 2.3w Edison (35w equivalent) ones as the 50w ones available at the time were either ugly, stark bright white or very directional.

Things have moved on and Philips do a range of good bulbs now that I would probably go for.


Turks.

[pvr]

My concern is that at the moment, the 50w bulbs give a good level of light in the rooms. If it went down to 35w equivalent, I am worried it might be too low a light level.

Do you have a picture of yours "in use" so to speak?

[Turks]

Send me your email address via PM and i'll send you some photo's. I'm at work at the moment so can't get into photobucket etc to upload them on here...


Turks.