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An installer in a dust mask kneeling in a roof cavity, laying a batt of insulation between timber joists, lit by a work lamp with dust hanging in the beam.
← All guides Insulation and draught proofing

Insulation and draught proofing

This is the cheapest work on the whole list and it changes the size of everything you buy afterwards. These guides cover where your heat actually goes, and what to do about it first.

3 guides

Guides for this upgrade

Start with the guide that matches what you're dealing with now. Each one stands on its own, with links to related topics where they overlap.

A technician pointing a thermal camera at a ceiling cornice, its screen showing a heat image
Insulation10 min read

Where the heat actually leaves your house

Ceiling, walls, floor, windows and gaps, in the order they matter, and what each one is worth in a typical brick veneer home.

Updated 15 August 2026Read →
A technician in a respirator testing a mould patch around a bathroom exhaust fan
Ventilation7 min read

You sealed the house. Now it’s damp.

Why a tighter house grows condensation and mould, what ventilation actually fixes it, and the order that avoids the problem in the first place.

Updated 9 August 2026Read →
An energy assessor going through a report on a tablet with a couple at their kitchen bench
Start here14 min read

The right order to upgrade your home

Insulation before heat pump sizing, sealing before ventilation, and solar later than you would think. The dependencies nobody explains before you are quoted.

Updated 22 August 2026Read →

6 upgrades

What’s involved in insulating and sealing a home

These are the main upgrades that can be involved in stopping heat leaving your house. You can also use these categories to find businesses that specialise in the work you need.

01 Ceiling and roof insulationThe cheapest change you can make to how a house holds temperature, and the one most homes are still short on.
02 Ceiling insulation top upOlder batts settle and thin out. Adding a layer over what is there costs a fraction of a full install.
03 Wall insulationBlown into the cavity of an existing wall without taking the room apart. Harder than a ceiling and worth more in a brick veneer.
04 Underfloor insulationFor a house on stumps with a cold floor in July. Fitted from below, so the floor coverings stay where they are.
05 Draught and weather sealingDoors, windows, wall vents and the gaps around them. The cheapest work in the building and the fastest to feel.
06 Insulation removal and replacementOld, damp, rodent damaged or non compliant material out first. Nothing new performs on top of it.

When you know which upgrade you need, find businesses that specialise in that work and service your area.

Find insulation specialists

Rebates and incentives

What help is available

The Home Energy Rebate Tracker puts the federal, state and territory programs in one place, with the date we last checked each one and a link to the page it came from.

Amounts, eligibility and closing dates change, and some schemes have shut while their old numbers were still printed on the page. Always check the source before you commit to an upgrade.

Up to $1,500

Ceiling insulation

OPEN

Victoria offers a ceiling insulation discount to all eligible homes. That amount is for an average Melbourne home. In colder regional areas it is up to $2,100.

Victoria Checked 28 October 2026 energy.vic.gov.au ↗

From 1 March 2027

Rental minimum standards

DEADLINE

Victorian rentals will need a set standard of ceiling insulation, four star showerheads and cooling in the main living area. Draught sealing follows on 1 July 2027. This is a requirement rather than a rebate.

Victoria Checked 6 October 2026 consumer.vic.gov.au ↗

3% over 10 years

Sustainable Household Scheme

OPEN

Money lent cheaply rather than money given. Between $2,000 and $20,000 at 3% over up to ten years, no fees and no penalty for paying it out early. Ceiling insulation, hot water heat pumps, electric heating, cooktops, batteries and EV charging are all on the list. Glazing is not.

Australian Capital Territory Checked 14 October 2026 climatechoices.act.gov.au ↗

When you’re ready for help

Find the right help for your next step.

Get a whole-home plan

A home energy assessor can look at your whole home, identify the biggest opportunities and help you work out what to tackle first to make it more comfortable, efficient and cheaper to run.

Find an assessor near you

Find the right specialist

Once you know which upgrade you need, find a business that specialises in that type of work and services your area.

Find a specialist near you