As the festive season winds down, many are eager to dismantle their Christmas trees, with some doing so as early as Boxing Day while others wait until January 6th. However, there’s a crucial mistake to avoid when storing away your decorations.

Heating specialists have issued a warning against placing boxes of decorations atop loft insulation, as compressing the material can significantly reduce its heat retention capabilities.

Dave Raval from The National Warm Homes Council (NWHC) cautioned: “It’s estimated that the average detached home will pay up to £380 a year more in heating bills because their loft insulation has been crushed by boxes – over the years this will quickly become thousands of pounds wasted. ” He further explained the importance of proper insulation, stating: “Properly insulating your loft, with around 300mm of insulation, will save every household hundreds of pounds in their heating bills every year. But crushing it with boxes and boards halves its effectiveness, as it works by being fluffy and trapping air.”

Raval also highlighted the financial implications of improper storage: “There really is cash flying out of your attic if you get this wrong and real savings to be made if you protect your loft insulation.”

A survey conducted by Loftzone, which manufactures loft storage solutions and is a member of the NWHC, revealed that 41% of the 2000 homeowners surveyed were stacking items, including Christmas decorations, on their insulation, with nearly half unaware that doing so diminishes the material’s ability to retain heat.

The Government has highlighted that loft insulation should be 270mm thick to be effective, warning that compressing it can slash its thermal resistance by up to 60%. It’s estimated that eight million UK homes have less than the recommended level of loft insulation.

Furthermore, countless others may have had adequate insulation at one point, but it has since been compromised by being flattened with storage boxes or boards, and items like Christmas decorations. During the late 2000s, thousands of homes received government grants to install insulation as part of an initiative by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown aimed at reducing energy consumption; however, there were no guidelines in place to ensure the material’s protection.

Now, the National Warm Homes Council, a coalition of British businesses specializing in energy-saving solutions, is pushing for amendments to building regulations that would require developers to install protective boarding over insulation. They are also urging the government to safeguard loft insulation during the extensive planned refurbishments of housing across the nation and to eliminate VAT on products related to protecting loft insulation.

Mr Raval commented: “This is such a quick and easy way for everyone to reduce the demand for energy, so we want to see the government make it a ‘must’ for new homes when they change building regulations.”

He also noted the significant impact this could have, saying, “There are plans to build 1.5 million new homes in the UK by 2029 and by protecting loft insulation could make a massive difference to consumers and the planet. “.

“During the election The Labour Party committed to investing an extra £6.6 billion over the next parliament to improve energy efficiency by upgrading five million existing to cut bills for families. The Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in energy efficiency, and loft insulation protection must should be at the heart of that plan.”