Keep Heat In Once It’s There

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32036, 10 July 1969, Page 12

Keep Heat In Once It’s There

Most people, whether they build, buy or rent a house or flat have a list of basic requirements. They expect it to be weatherproof; a>low fire hazard; well illuminated by natural as well as electric light; feature adequate sanitary, cooking and heating conveniences; and suggest a minimum of repairs and maintenance.

Rather less obvious and often overlooked is the comfort of the home. There is a tendency to look on indoors as being synonomous with comfort but there will be only discomfort if a house is cold, damp or draughty.

A house should have a natural warmth in winter and coolness in summer. But in the coldest months it should not be difficult or expensive to heat to a comfortable level. The interior should be dry, free of mould, and linings, furnishings and clothing should not become damp. At the same time ventilation, without draughts, should be constant under both summer and winter conditions. Home insulation is an obvious, relatively cheap and simple way to meet all these requirements. It is preferable to plan a home’s insulation before building and include it in the walls, but in most homes it can easily be installed in the ceiling after construction. It has been proved that up to 60 per cent of the total heat loss from an average house is through the ceiling with a somewhat lower heat loss through the walls, floor and closed windows. This means that if your home is not insulated,

the money you spend oh heating goes sky high: The rising heat costs can be halted most effectively by using a reflective type of insulation, such as Sisalation 425—a laminate of kraft paper and aluminium foil, either single or double sided. Made by A.C.1.-St Regis (N.Z.), Ltd,-a member of the Alex Harvey group of companies, Sisalation 425 can be placed both in the ceiling and under the floor. The home handyman can do the job or, if your prefer, a tradesman can be called in. Insulation of this type reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the basic cause of mould growth and staining of ceilings and walls. These unsightly stains are caused by condensation forming on the cold surfaces. Mould will eventually result in dry rot, which despite its name is caused by dampness. In an uninsulated house mould will form in the

unused areas such as the spare bedroom. . A striking example of the benefit of Sisalation was the 196061 Himalayan scientific and mountaineering expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the objects of which was to search for the abominable showman. A hut was built at 17300 ft in the Solo Khumba area of Nepal. Construction was of timber framework covered with wire netting, Sisalation and heavy green canvas. , The hut was heated by a wood-burning stove built from rock available on the site, and the result was a warm and comfortable camp. The eventual saving in power bills more than compensates home owners for initial insulation costs within a very short time. Thereafter it is savings all the way. To ensure the most effective and economical use of insulation, however, it' is wise to consult manufactu-. rers’ advisory services.