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Home energy efficiency

Squag1

Can't remember....
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I have a recollection that there is an optimum level of insulation. Problem is that condensation can occur within the thickness of the insulation - interstitial condensation - if the insulation is too thick/deep.

Ideally there should be a vapour barrier under insulation - polythene - some insulation comes in a wrap, foil on the bottom and "polythene" on top. Foil helps to reflect heat back into dwelling.
It can be calculated, but math was never my strong point.

Again, don't stuff insulation into the eaves, leave the ventilation. Fibreglass should be left fully expanded, stuffing it into places reduces the effectiveness.
 

Pow-Lo

Make civil the mind, make savage the body.
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Sorry if sucking eggs here….Re,the loft ‘being well ventilated more insulation won’t go amiss’ the purpose of the insulation to to keep cold air away from the ceilings and not to stop ventilation. Whoever adds the extra insulation (it’s an easy diy job) needs to take care not to stop ventilation through the attic or you will have problems.

woukd be interested in seeing the ‘transformer’ - any chance of a picture?
Yeah, I know about that.

I’m not getting the ladders out and going back up but it looks like a laptop charger thingy.
 

andyBeaker

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Staff member
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Pow-Lo invest in a retractable loft ladder.

it’ll change your life.

in all seriousness, they do make life easier
 

Pow-Lo

Make civil the mind, make savage the body.
Club Sponsor
Pow-Lo invest in a retractable loft ladder.

it’ll change your life.

in all seriousness, they do make life easier
Here, I’ve even included the fuse box:

4B98E4D2-C5FA-48A2-BF2B-AC50C39A6767.jpeg

I don't go up there that often to warrant a retractable loft ladder.
 

Oldandbald

Been there, and had one
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Why didn't the twat install a fused spur with a switch on it. At least it's fused down to 1amp. That doesn't look like a professional installation if I'm honest. Wouldn't take 5 minutes to swap that for a switched version for a fiver but don't forget to turn the power off first. :)
 

andyBeaker

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Yeah, I know about that.

I’m not getting the ladders out and going back up but it looks like a laptop charger thingy.
Here, I’ve even included the fuse box:

View attachment 62255

I don't go up there that often to warrant a retractable loft ladder.
Bizarrely that may well be a (rubbish) dual pole installation with the ’switch’ being achieved by pulling* the fuse - not ideal if your house is on fire. As Eric Morecombe would say ‘all the right notes…not necessarily in the right order.’ As Oldandbald says…. an easy fix.
 

slim63

Never surrender
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Here, I’ve even included the fuse box:

View attachment 62255

I don't go up there that often to warrant a retractable loft ladder.
So ya fixed it as presumably its not running now ?

I don't know the construction of your roof but I would leave that off for a few days and then stick my head up there to see if there is any condensation forming on the underside of the tiles or slates .......... if its felted and in good condition eg not ripped to shreds I wouldn't bother looking for a week or more

All of this would be much easier with a loft ladder in case anyone forgot to mention that :pancarta:
 

Oldandbald

Been there, and had one
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Bizarrely that may well be a (rubbish) dual pole installation with the ’switch’ being achieved by pulling* the fuse - not ideal if your house is on fire. As Eric Morecombe would say ‘all the right notes…not necessarily in the right order.’ As Oldandbald says…. an easy fix.
Nope. Doesn't comply. You'd have to isolate the whole lot before pulling the fuse if you want to be completely safe. Has to be switched.

Much easier to do if you have a loft ladder.
 

slim63

Never surrender
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Nope. Doesn't comply. You'd have to isolate the whole lot before pulling the fuse if you want to be completely safe. Has to be switched.

Much easier to do if you have a loft ladder.
And if you were doing it in a sensible way to my mind you should move to an easily accessible location, corner of the landing for example

This will also prevent you dirtying your new loft ladder with repeated trips to the grubby attic
 

Oldandbald

Been there, and had one
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And if you were doing it in a sensible way to my mind you should move to an easily accessible location, corner of the landing for example

This will also prevent you dirtying your new loft ladder with repeated trips to the grubby attic
I agree. Easy to pop the cables down through the ceiling and site the switch somewhere out of the way but accessible. As long as it's clearly labelled it will comply. Lazy bastid.
 

Pow-Lo

Make civil the mind, make savage the body.
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So ya fixed it as presumably its not running now ?

I don't know the construction of your roof but I would leave that off for a few days and then stick my head up there to see if there is any condensation forming on the underside of the tiles or slates .......... if its felted and in good condition eg not ripped to shreds I wouldn't bother looking for a week or more

All of this would be much easier with a loft ladder in case anyone forgot to mention that :pancarta:
Yep, all sorted, it's not running. There was a bit of a draught coming through the ceiling vent but I've covered that with masking tape for the time being. It's doing the job because there's no longer an Arctic gale howling down the stairs. The difference in temperature upstairs is now that bastard vent is off is nothing short of incredible.

I doubt there'll be condensation on the underside of the roof, there's more than enough airflow up there hence the draught from the vent before I taped it up.

Yes, the loft ladder. I've heard of them :jaja-no:
 

andyBeaker

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So ya fixed it as presumably its not running now ?

I don't know the construction of your roof but I would leave that off for a few days and then stick my head up there to see if there is any condensation forming on the underside of the tiles or slates .......... if its felted and in good condition eg not ripped to shreds I wouldn't bother looking for a week or more

All of this would be much easier with a loft ladder in case anyone forgot to mention that :pancarta:
One of us is completely misunderstanding this…….my interpretation is that fresh air is being filtered and pumped into the hovel as a means of controlling damp in the hovel.

I think you see it the other way round?
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
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One of us is completely misunderstanding this…….my interpretation is that fresh air is being filtered and pumped into the hovel as a means of controlling damp in the hovel.

I think you see it the other way round?
He doesn't have showers at home so it doesn't matter. He saves money by having them in the gym
 

slim63

Never surrender
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One of us is completely misunderstanding this…….my interpretation is that fresh air is being filtered and pumped into the hovel as a means of controlling damp in the hovel.

I think you see it the other way round?
The only misunderstanding I see is the assumption that the air is being pumped in for damp control reasons, it may be the case but it may not be, I certainly didn't think it was some sort of extraction
 

Pow-Lo

Make civil the mind, make savage the body.
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The only misunderstanding I see is the assumption that the air is being pumped in for damp control reasons, it may be the case but it may not be, I certainly didn't think it was some sort of extraction
You’re absolutely spot on. The whole point of the system is to blow air in; there’s an extractor in the utility room, which subsequently allows a flow of air. Therefore, no condensation and no damp.

However, it was a waste of money. There was three cases of damp in the house when we moved in:

1. Damp patch on the dressing room wall and on the wall out it the hall, both of which caused by a leaking roof. The repair had been botched a few times during their ownership. We had the roof repaired properly, no more damp.

2. Blistering paint from water ingress on the supporting walls of the patio doors. Them twats painted over it just before we moved in. We had the builders take a look and the damp course stopped about 10cm short on both sides. Now fixed.

3. Damp on dining room wall under bay window; I don’t think they knew about this one. A layer of concrete on the front patio adjacent to the outside wall had been built too high, so there was nowhere for the rain water to drain. Also fixed.

The people here before were academically pretty bright. However, as with a lot of academics, they didn’t have the brains they were born with. It seems that whenever there was a problem with the house, they threw money at the symptoms and not the cause. If they’d called proper tradesmen to find the source of the damp and have it properly fixed, they wouldn’t have needed to install that stupid vent system and could’ve simply opened a couple of windows like any normal person.
 
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