I bought a Heat Pump

Reed_Richards

JKenH said:

Homes risk energy rating downgrade if they install a heat pump

Here's a reference I found earlier https://www.yorkshireenergysystems.co.uk/epcandheatpumps/

Verdigris

Thanks for the link, R_R.

"Does it recommend a heat pump? I can tell you now it does not. Even if your house is currently heated by an old, inefficient oil boiler the EPC will not recommend a heat pump – it will recommend that you install another fossil fuel consuming boiler. No EPC ever recommends a heat pump or any other renewable energy source for space heating."

Which is what I said. (and I hadn't seen article before, just my own observation) I've seen plenty thet recommend a wind turbine and you'd be far harder pushed to get an ROI on that in any sensible time scale.

Reed_Richards

Yes, I had to get a new EPC for my RHI and, as I had installed solar panels since the previous EPC, my new (current) EPC recommends a wind turbine!

The EPC software not only has blind spot for recommending heat pumps but will actually downgrade you if you get one!  We could do with a few more published articles pointing out how ridiculous this is.  Where's Martin Lewis when you need him,?

JKenH

Those of us off the grid will have no alternative but to get a heat pump, if our old boiler conks out, from 2026 under the Government Net Zero plans revealed today. My oil boiler will be 20 years old by then.

matelodave

My EPC did improve, because we replace manky old storage heaters with a heatpump, upped the loft insulation and changed the lightbulbs but it kept the hot water as poor, even though its derived from the heatpump and therefore more efficient an cheaper to run than the old immersion heater.

I've had several EPCs done in the past years on mine and our parents houses when they were sold and in my opinion none of them have been worth the paper, money or effort involved, non of the so called surveyors have had much of a clue either.

Reed_Richards

AFAIK EFCs see all forms of electrical heating as equally bad so changing storage heaters to a heat pump would do nothing for your EPC.  It was the loft insulation and light bulbs that gave you an improved rating, @matelodave.

Verdigris

Yep, £30-worth of LEDs will get you from an E to a B, easily!

I exaggerate slightly, but not all that much.

JKenH

There is a flaw with EPC surveyors that if they can’t see it they won’t count it. I installed underfloor insulation slabs when I built my current house in 1990 but as it can’t be seen and building regs didn’t require it at the time it was omitted from the calcs. Ditto the 50% thicker cavity wall insulation even though I measured the wall thickness in front of him to show we had a larger cavity than required by the building regs. 

Verdigris

JKenH said:

There is a flaw with EPC surveyors that if they can’t see it they won’t count it. I installed underfloor insulation slabs when I built my current house in 1990 but as it can’t be seen and building regs didn’t require it at the time it was omitted from the calcs. Ditto the 50% thicker cavity wall insulation even though I measured the wall thickness in front of him to show we had a larger cavity than required by the building regs. 

Yes, and it can work both ways. The place I've just bought was built in the late 80s, at the time the building regs were changed to include cavity insulation. I wasn't able to find out exactly when the BR application was made (you'd think that would be part of conveyancers searches, but apparently not) but the EPC assessor assumed there was insulation. Only now I have possession can I drill a hole to find out. I'm going to add external insulation, anyway, but it is nice to know what you are dealing with.

shinytop

Verdigris said:

JKenH said:

There is a flaw with EPC surveyors that if they can’t see it they won’t count it. I installed underfloor insulation slabs when I built my current house in 1990 but as it can’t be seen and building regs didn’t require it at the time it was omitted from the calcs. Ditto the 50% thicker cavity wall insulation even though I measured the wall thickness in front of him to show we had a larger cavity than required by the building regs. 

Yes, and it can work both ways. The place I've just bought was built in the late 80s, at the time the building regs were changed to include cavity insulation. I wasn't able to find out exactly when the BR application was made (you'd think that would be part of conveyancers searches, but apparently not) but the EPC assessor assumed there was insulation. Only now I have possession can I drill a hole to find out. I'm going to add external insulation, anyway, but it is nice to know what you are dealing with.

It certainly can work both ways.  If you're applying for RHI (admittedly too late now) you want your EPC assessor to assume the worst for what they can't see and to generally make your house look as bad as possible.  My EPC heating and HW requirements, which determine how much RHI I get, are way more than those on my MCS certification - and by way more I mean 45%.  Not that I'm complaining.