Christmas warning as packing away decorations incorrectly could cost £1,000s

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

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.