Does a Better EPC Rating Equal a Warmer Home?

When the weather is cold, it’s important that you have the warmth you need inside your home. Not only does a warm home feel better, it also helps to prevent damp. This warm and dry atmosphere helps to prevent health problems, especially in babies, children or older people who live in your home.

The problem with heating a home is that it can cost a considerable amount of money. You need to find a way to keep your property warm while limiting expenditure as much as possible. A domestic EPC rating lets you know how well you are doing this. The better the EPC rating for your home is, the more energy efficient and warmer it will be. EPC London and EPC Glasgow can give you some insight on making your home more efficient.

What is an EPC rating?

In order to understand how an EPC rating relates to the warmth of your home, it helps to be fully aware of what an EPC rating is. Any property which is being sold, built or newly rented out in the UK has to have an EPC in place. The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) contains a rating which reflects how energy efficient the property is. The ratings run from A (highest) to G (lowest). The EPC also contains information about potential carbon dioxide emissions and any improvements which could be made in order to improve the rating of the property.

Although an EPC is only a legal requirement for properties being sold, built or newly rented out, it makes sense for home owners to have an inspection carried out. Doing so allows them to see how energy efficient their home is and what improvements they should make. Improvements such as replacing a boiler or renewing insulation not only reduce energy consumption, they also improve the warmth in a property by ensuring that heat is produced effectively and that it’s kept within the property,

Why insulation is so important

There are many different factors which come together to determine the EPC rating of a property. One of the most important is insulation. If there is no insulation in your home at present, insulating the property can have a significant impact on the EPC rating. Even renewing old insulation can make a difference, especially when  combined with other factors.

Making sure that the insulation in your home is complete and up to date also makes it a warmer place to live. This is due to the fact that the insulation prevents warm air from escaping from your home.

Other factors which link an EPC rating to warmth

There are other factors to consider which can improve both the EPC rating of your home and the level of warmth. As one increases so does the other, thereby linking the two together.

Upgrading your boiler and heating system.

Having an outdated boiler and heating system makes it more difficult to heat your home and produce hot water. This means that you are likely to have a lower EPC rating and that your home may not be as warm as it should be. Old boilers can also be dangerous. You should have your boiler serviced every twelve months and make sure that it’s replaced as soon as it needs to be.

Checking your windows.

Changing from single glazing to double glazing can make a difference to the EPC rating for your property, when combined with other factors. Upgrading or repairing current double glazing will not have a significant impact on the rating but having the work completed can save your money on your energy bills, in the long term.

Using renewable energy.

Installing solar panels can have an impact on the EPC of your home, depending on the size of the system that is installed. The main benefit of taking this action is that it allows you to retain the warmth levels in your home at less overall cost. This is especially the case now that storage batteries have been improved and you can store energy more easily, for when less sunlight is available.

Not every change you make will have a significant impact on the EPC rating of your home. However, several actions taken together can make a big difference. The better the EPC rating is, the easier it should be to keep your home warm, at the lowest possible cost. If you want to make your property more energy efficient, and improve warmth levels, you should think about having an EPC completed. It will show you what your current rating is and provide recommendations on how to improve.