Month: October 2022

Did you know that your property can lose heat through draughts originating from uninsulated suspended timber floors?

Underfloor insulation can help to eliminate these draughts and is recognised as a cost-effective way of insulating your property which saves you money on your heating bills.

The team of engineers at Arktek describe the benefits of underfloor insulation and outline why we use Knauf Insulation products for underfloor insulation:

How does underfloor insulation work?

Draughts in your home can originate from the void between the ground and your suspended timber floor, especially in older homes. Underfloor insulation provides a barrier from the outside, keeping cold draughts out and heat in.

Underfloor Insulation is installed under your floorboards and between the joists of your suspended timber floor by securing mineral wool insulation in place with nylon netting.

Our chosen product for underfloor insulation is Knauf Insulation. Knauf Insulation is made of mineral wool, the optimum choice for insulating suspended timber floors because:

• It provides the best combination of fire safety, thermal, and acoustic performance.
• Mineral wool adapts to any slight imperfections in the substrate and knits itself together, eliminating any air gaps.

You should be eligible for underfloor insulation if you have timber floors, and if our engineers are able to access the areas between the joists and your floor.

Is there funding available for Underfloor Insulation?

Underfloor Insulation can save you up to £100* per year on your heating bill and you could be eligible for funding towards the cost towards the cost of this under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme.

Find out if you qualify for funding for underfloor insulation this winter.

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 have changed as of 1 October 2022. Here’s what you need to know as a landlord to comply with the new regulations:

The government has updated the regulations for carbon monoxide alarms in rented accommodation and new build properties. Private and social sector landlords are now required to provide carbon monoxide alarms in properties that have a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).

The new regulations apply to all rented and new build properties in England, following in the footsteps from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Landlords who do not comply with the regulations could face a penalty notice and fines of up to £5,000 from Local Authorities.

What do carbon monoxide alarms do?

Carbon monoxide alarms will project a loud noise similar to that of a smoke alarm when they detect carbon monoxide in the air around your combustion appliance. They are designed to alert you as quickly as possible to the fact that there is carbon monoxide in the atmosphere as the gas itself is poisonous and cannot be detected through sight or smell.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, feeling weak, headaches, being sick or having chest or muscle pain. If you are concerned that your appliance is leaking carbon monoxide or your carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, please contact the National Gas Helpline on 0800 111 999.

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and an installer of government funded measures that can help landlords and homeowners save on energy bills.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

The government’s ECO4 scheme provides funding for the installation of central heating systems in properties which have never previously had a central heating system and where occupants are in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Learn how to find out if you are eligible below:

Which properties qualify for funding towards First Time Central Heating?

To qualify for funding towards First Time Central Heating then your property must not currently have, or have ever had a wet central heating system installed (e.g. boiler and radiators). Often, properties which qualify are heated by electric room heaters, gas room heaters, or inefficient or broken electric storage heaters.

You can find out what type of heating system your property has by checking what the ‘Main Heating’ system is listed as on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home.

Who is eligible for funding towards First Time Central Heating?

Funding is available to both homeowners and private rented sector tenants. To qualify, you must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit for the ECO4 scheme or meet the criteria for the LA Flex scheme in your area.

Under ECO4, you may qualify if you are receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Child Benefit (conditions apply)
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit

The criteria for funding under LA Flex varies by local authority, but you can rely on the expertise from the engineers at Arktek to advise if you qualify based on your location – contact us to find out if you could qualify under LA Flex.

What does funding for First Time Central Heating include?

Arktek can install two types of central heating system at your property, either:

1. An Air Source Heat Pump system
2. A Gas boiler system (please note: the property must have had an existing mains gas supply prior to April 2022 to qualify for this type of system).

The install also includes installing all the necessary pipework, radiators, and heating controls.

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 measures. Get in touch to find out if you qualify for funding for first time central heating.

With energy bills increasing even more rapidly than they typically do this time of year, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their spend on energy and gas. Investing in upgrades to your home can feel daunting and can be a significant expense, but some home energy improvements can save you a lot of money, both in the short-term and in the long-term.

Take a look at some statistics that can help you understand how much money you could potentially save by having different types of insulation installed in your home:

According to data from British Gas about average energy bills in UK homes, the average annual cost of energy bills as of 1 October 2022 is:

• £1,712.25 for a 1-2 person home
• £2,499.87 for a 2-3 person home
• £3,492.90 for a home with 4-5 people

Based on these statistics, as well as the estimate that around 80% of energy bills are spent on gas and heating, our team has crunched the numbers to demonstrate the amount you could possibly save by installing wall insulation, underfloor insulation, or roof insulation.

Of course, this will vary slightly depending on the property type and your annual energy usage, but it can help give you an understanding of the potential savings – which can be quite significant!

It’s also possible that you could be eligible for funding for the installation of energy saving measures under the ECO4 government scheme – find out by filling in our helpful form.  

Get in touch with any questions about home energy improvements and to find out if you’re eligible for funding toward any measures to better heat your home and reduce energy bills.