The offer started on 9 January 2012 and is due to end on 30 September 2012.

Unfortunately, no. The free offer only applies to applications received after 9 January 2012.

Yes. We'll consider applications for all mainland UK and Isle of Wight properties, providing they comply with our terms and conditions.

The free offer only covers the cost of the insulation itself. Any extras, including larger than average properties will have to be paid for by the customer.

The free offer only applies to properties where at least two thirds of the loft area or cavity wall area is to be insulated.

Your voucher will be sent to you in the month following the installation. So for example if you've had your insulation installed in February, you'll receive your voucher in March.

Yes, you get one voucher for loft insulation and one for cavity wall insulation.

The external walls of some houses are made of two brick or block walls, with a gap or cavity of at least 50mm between the two walls. Metal ties join the walls together. This makes a cavity wall.

The cavity wall is injected with insulating material by drilling holes in the external wall. Holes are small, around 22-25mm in diameter, and are 'made good' or resealed after each injection. Each hole is injected in turn, starting at the bottom.

Cavity wall insulation normally takes around two hours to install, but this can vary depending on the size of the house and other factors, like access.

Before the installation, the installing firm will survey your property to make sure that it’s suitable for insulation. This survey may be done by a surveyor or the technician before installation.

The drilling does create some vibration, so it’s a good idea to remove ornaments, particularly those near external walls, for their safety and your peace of mind.
The technician carrying out the installation will need access to all walls, so he may need to get inside attached garages, lean-to sheds, conservatories etc. The insulation will only be effective if all suitable walls are filled. If you have a wall right on a boundary, the Technician may to go inside your neighbour's property so it's a good idea to speak to your neighbour before the installation.

The drilling will create a little dust, but this will be cleaned up at the end of the job. It's a good idea to move any vehicles from your driveway and any items that are close to the walls, to give the installer better access for the equipment needed for the job.

The technician must carry out certain checks before and after installation, including any heating appliances. So it's essential that they can access the inside of your home. Apart from these checks, all the remaining work is carried out from the outside.

If your neighbour's house is not already insulated, the technician will insert a cavity barrier at the party wall line. Of course, if your neighbour's house is insulated at the same time, the cavity barrier won't be needed.

There are several different types of insulation available. We have chosen InstaFibre White Glass Wool, Yellow Glass Wool, Rockwool and InstaBead because they are safe, very effective and simple to install. Glass Wool and Rockwool are often referred to as 'mineral wool'. 

All our systems of cavity wall insulation have been tested, assessed and approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) or the British Standards Institution (BSI) and all our systems have a similar insulation value. Whatever system you choose, make sure that the installer is properly approved and can offer a 25-year CIGA guarantee.

All technicians (team leaders) undergo training by the system supplier and the installing firm to make sure they are competent to install cavity wall insulation. They carry a training card, so please feel free to ask to see this.

Each system has a defined pattern of holes, which has been tested to make sure that it results in a complete fill. Most systems have an automatic cut out, which actuates when the adjacent wall area is full. There is tolerance in the injection pattern so that the material will flow past the next injection hole.

No. As the insulation is held within a brick or block wall, it doesn't need to be ‘dense’. In fact, for insulation and other purposes, a light density is better.
Before installation, the technician will carry out a quality test to make sure that the insulation will go into the wall at the right density. They will also note the amount of material used, so they know that sufficient insulation has been installed.
Drilling a hole in the outer wall and testing the cavity fill with a rod or pencil won't provide any meaningful information about the insulation 'density'.

Ventilators supplying combustion air to fuel burning appliances or ventilators at ground level that ventilate below timber floors must be safeguarded. If they aren't sleeved, the technician will remove them and seal around them to stop them being blocked by the insulation. Other vents, which may be redundant, such as cavity vents or vents that used to supply air to open fires in bedrooms may be closed off. The technician should discuss these with you. Redundant airbricks may also be filled.

The technician will fill all the injection holes with mortar in a colour as close to the existing mortar as possible. On pebbledash finished walls, they will apply pebbles to the surface to match the existing finish. After weathering, you shouldn't be able to see the holes.

Normally, the installing firm will not re-paint any injection holes. Even if the original paint was used, it may not match due to weathering. So it may be necessary for you to consider painting the areas in question, after the mortar has dried. You should discuss and agree what will be done with the installing firm before the work is carried out.

No, the installer or the agent will submit the Guarantee application. The Guarantee is posted to you within a couple of months of the application being received at CIGA. Make sure you keep it safe.
CIGA is non-profit distributing; it's only function is to stand as guarantor for the promises set out in the Guarantee. It has the resources to meet the promises made in the Guarantee.
All professional approved installed firms are members of CIGA and can apply for a CIGA Guarantee, for properties built with traditional cavity walls. Make sure you get a CIGA Guarantee, as nothing else will give you the level of assurance to which you are entitled.

Yes, if your heating is not controlled by a thermostat. If you have a thermostat, it will cut out the heating at the same temperature as before (unless you adjust it), so you may not notice the difference in rooms with a thermostat. However, you should find that the temperature in other parts of your house improves, for example, a small bedroom on the corner.
With cavity wall insulation, you should find that your home holds its temperature for longer, so the time between heating cycles may be longer. This means, your home should be a more even temperature throughout and/or you'll get reduced fuel bill.

No. But normal building maintenance will still be needed as standard.

For the life of the building. The British Board of Agrément certificate confirms this.

You should talk to the installing firm if you have any concerns following the installation. A contract exists between you and the installer, so you must give them the opportunity to investigate your worries and resolve them.

^*Insulation services are carried out on behalf of SSE Energy Supply limited by SSE approved installers. You will not be eligible for free insulation if you already have pre-existing cavity wall insulation and loft insulation that is more than 60mm thick, or if we’re unable to insulate at least two thirds of the total loft space or wall cavities. If you have a large or non standard property or if we need to use specialist systems or equipment to carry out the work then there will be a charge, but you will be told about this when the free, no obligation suitability survey is done. At the time of your free suitability assessment, your assessor will confirm if you will need to pay an additional contribution due to excess meterage or additional works. Funding is not available for under tile insulation or where there is already more than 150mm/6 inches of existing loft insulation. Offer open to all applications between 31 March to 30 September 2012 and installations must be completed by 30 November 2012. Applications submitted outside these dates will not qualify for this offer. Offer can be withdrawn at any time due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Subject to a suitability assessment and limited funding. Homeowner’s permission required. This service is currently only available for properties in mainland Great Britain and the Isle of Wight. 

^**Qualification for the voucher offer is dependent on any person living at the property receiving the following benefits and/or meeting the following criteria:

State Pension Credit
OR 
Child Tax Credit with income less than £16,190
OR ANY OF 
Employment and Support Allowance
Job Seekers Allowance
Income Support
WHICH MUST ALSO INCLUDE 
Parental responsibility for a child under five living at the property
OR 
A Qualifying Component

Qualifying Component 

• Child tax credit which includes a disability or severe disability element
• A disabled child premium
• A disability premium, enhanced disability premium, or severe disability premium
• A pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium 

^We may monitor your call to improve our customer service

^#Source: Energy Saving Trust