{"id":92524,"date":"2025-06-17T09:30:32","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T00:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=92524"},"modified":"2025-08-19T20:52:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T11:22:58","slug":"winter-proof-house-insulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/winter-proof-house-insulation\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Winter-Proof Your House If Your Builder Didn’t Bother"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Thermal<\/h2>\n

As the cold finally kicks in across southern Australia, minds turn to warmth versus wallet.<\/p>\n

Staying warm doesn\u2019t mean bankrolling your electricity retailer. Applying a few helpful hacks and habits can make a real tangible difference.<\/p>\n

I have spent 15 years evangelising electrically; the good news is solar is cheap and smart arse comments are free, but the tradies who make them aren’t.<\/p>\n

The bulk of the builders I’ve met aren’t horrible people, but they operate inside an industry that’s horribly powerful, expensive and cocksure; right up until you ask for something they’re unfamiliar with, like energy efficiency.<\/p>\n

At that point, builders are highly resistant to change, because “nah mate” is the easiest answer when you’re not the sharpest tool in the trailer. And if saying NO doesn’t work, they’ll happily refer you to management, who apply “the d!ckhead tax” to price what you want out of existence.<\/p>\n

Happily, that means we’re starting from a low base, so significant improvements aren’t hard to make \u2014 and if you’re a solar system owner, a well-insulated home means you can better retain the heat from electric heating powered by your panels during the day.<\/p>\n

Where To Begin<\/h2>\n

I’ll be documenting some home improvements in the coming weeks because my house is a diabolically bad example.<\/p>\n

If you want real comfort then I highly recommend gutting your home, insulating, replacing the roof, installing bulk solar and buying a new heat pump, because I’m great at spending other people’s money.<\/p>\n

Of course, that’s not as sexy or immediate as buying a solar battery. Nor is it cheap and easy, because you’ll have to both deal with builders and somehow invent a double glazing industry that barely exists in Australia.<\/p>\n

All Houses Are Different<\/h2>\n

Even identical houses have different owner expectations so we aren’t spelling out a recipe, but rather hatching some ideas you can use or adapt, and hopefully identifying some pitfalls to avoid.<\/p>\n

I’m partial to old houses with ceiling height, but unlike a lot of aged housing stock locally, this cottage doesn’t have 300mm thick solid stone walls for thermal mass.<\/p>\n

Rather, I have weatherboards, sagging stumps under a timber floor, chimneys, sash windows and a lack of insulation.<\/p>\n

I can’t afford the expense to make it all perfect, but I’ve lived here long enough to know where it needs most attention, and hopefully you’ll see similar low-hanging fruit you can pick yourself.<\/p>\n

\"Thermal

I’ve added white lines for clarity, but this hallway clearly shows the front wall around the door isn’t insulated, and the roof possums need to refit a ceiling batt.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Close The Bloody Door<\/h3>\n

You wouldn\u2019t leave a window open in July, but if your doors and windows are leaking air, you basically are. 1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

However plugging drafts can cut your heating bills by up to 25%. That\u2019s huge.<\/p>\n

There are many sites offering advice (Green It Yourself<\/a> is a great option). In many instances, it’s just some time, foam tape, and maybe some door snakes.<\/p>\n

One heads-up: Fixing your kitchen rangehood and bathroom exhausts can be an easy first win.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gap sealing can be a battle but it’s one worth fighting.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Heat The Human, Not The House<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re working solo from home, don\u2019t bother heating the whole place. Electric throws, heated desk pads, and good socks are your friends. Same at bedtime \u2014 a heated blanket is far cheaper to run than blasting the split system all night.<\/p>\n

Just bear in mind that while the Nordics leave their babies outside in the snow<\/a>, really low temperatures can be hard on your health if you’re somewhat asthmatic like me.<\/p>\n

\"Thermal

Laying bolt still in the dark this human gave the thermal camera operator a scare.<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Insulate Your Windows<\/h3>\n

Seriously, this is so important that it will become several articles. When Australian builders worked out that glass is cheaper than bricks, our windows grew to be far too big, and we were sold a lie that this is just great!<\/p>\n

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A single-glazed, three-millimeter deep pane of glass can lose from 10 to 15 times more heat than an uninsulated<\/em> wall of the same area.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Making windows excellent is expensive, but improving them dramatically isn’t hard.<\/p>\n