Know What's Really in Your Walls

You were told your home had a certain level of insulation, but how can you be sure? Check the R lets you verify what's actually in place against what you were promised, so there's no more guesswork. Insulation has a big impact on your comfort, your power bills, and the warmth of your home through every season. With this tool, you can see at a glance whether your insulation measures up or falls short.

How to Check the R

To get started, you'll need a few details about your home and your insulation. First, enter your TLA. Then add the brand of your existing insulation, which you can usually find on a bag tag stapled to a wooden beam or joist in your ceiling or under your floor. If the bag tag is missing, check the quote or invoice you received when the insulation was installed. Next, enter the nominal thickness of the product. If you don't know this, just leave it as 0 and the tool will still work. Finally, measure a sample piece of your insulation and enter its width, height, and weight. Once you've gathered these details, pop them into the tool and we'll do the rest.

Submit Your Findings

When you've finished, you can submit your results to the EnergySmart database. Your data stays completely anonymous, apart from your TLA, and it helps us understand how many homes across New Zealand are properly insulated. We use these insights to support government programmes like Warmer Kiwi Homes and to inform our conversations with local members of parliament. Every submission helps us push for warmer, healthier, more efficient homes for all Kiwis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use the tool?

Check the R helps you confirm whether your home's insulation matches what you were told was installed, and whether it meets the recommended standard for a property like yours. Insulation affects your comfort, your energy bills, and your home's value, so it pays to know exactly what you have. In just a few minutes, you'll get clear, honest answers without needing any special knowledge.

What is my TLA?

Your TLA is your Territorial Local Authority, the council area where your property is located. It tells us which region your home sits in, so we can check your insulation against the right standard for your area. If you're not sure of yours, you can find it on your council rates notice or by searching your address online.

What is nominal thickness?

Nominal thickness is the stated thickness of your insulation product, measured in millimetres. You'll usually find this printed on the bag tag stapled to a beam or joist, or listed on your installation quote or invoice. If you can't find it, don't worry. Just leave this field as 0 and the tool will still give you a result.

What if I don't know the brand of insulation?

The brand is often printed on a bag tag that's stapled to a wooden beam or joist in your ceiling or under your floor. It's standard practice in New Zealand for insulation installers to leave one of these tags behind when they finish a job. If the tag is missing, take a look at the quote or invoice from when the insulation was installed, as the product name is usually listed there.

How do I measure a sample piece of insulation?

Take a small offcut or sample of your insulation and measure its width and height in millimetres. Then weigh it in grams using kitchen scales or similar. Enter these figures into the tool, and we'll use them to help calculate how your insulation is performing.

What happens if my insulation doesn't meet the standard?

If your results fall short, you'll see exactly where you stand and what that means for your home. Knowing this puts you in a stronger position to plan an upgrade, follow up with your installer, or explore support options that may be available to you.

Do I need any special tools or knowledge?

Not at all. You just need a few basic details and a simple way to measure and weigh a sample piece of insulation. The tool handles all the calculations, and your results come in plain language so they're easy to understand.