Do heating controls really matter?
Yes. In fact, they’re one of the first places we look.
Good heating controls are usually cheaper and less disruptive than changing a boiler or tackling major fabric work, yet they can still recover useful EPC points.
Sometimes a couple of points is exactly what a property needs.
The trick is installing the right controls, not simply more controls.
THE WORKSHOP JOURNAL
What actually makes the difference?
It depends on what is already installed and what extra control the proposed system genuinely provides.
The basics — including hot water
A programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves give the heating system a useful starting point.
If any of those are missing, adding them can improve both the way the system operates and, potentially, the EPC.
But having all three does not automatically mean the property has sophisticated zoning.
Don’t forget the hot water
Controls do not stop at the radiators.
If a stored hot-water cylinder has no thermostat, adding one can provide a modest EPC improvement and prevent the cylinder from being heated without proper temperature control.
Cylinder insulation is a separate issue, but both should be checked as part of the same review.
Smart and digital controls
Smart controls can make heating easier to manage through automation, remote control and more responsive temperature settings.
Some systems also provide recognised advanced control functions that can improve the EPC assessment.
The brand name is not the important bit.
What the system actually does is what matters.
Time-and-temperature zoning
This is where heating controls become particularly interesting.
Time-and-temperature zone control allows different parts of the home to operate at different temperatures and schedules.
A suitable smart thermostatic radiator valve can create an independently controlled zone. Technically, even one such valve may create a second zone alongside the rest of the system.
But if you are going to invest in smarter control, we would normally rather see the house zoned sensibly than install one clever valve simply to tick a box.
Bedrooms, living spaces and other regularly used areas may all benefit from different heating patterns.
What we’ve found in the Workshop
Our investigations repeatedly show that heating controls can recover useful EPC points.
The gain is not always dramatic. But this is exactly why controls can be so valuable.
A small improvement achieved cheaply and with little disruption can be a much better recommendation than a larger improvement requiring thousands of pounds and major work.
When a property is already close to the next rating band, those apparently small points can become extremely important.
Before you upgrade
• Establish what is already fitted and working. Check the programmer, room thermostat, radiator controls and hot-water controls rather than assuming they exist because the boiler installation looks modern.
• Do not assume that a programmer, room thermostat and ordinary TRVs automatically provide time-and-temperature zoning.
• If smart controls are proposed, establish their recognised functions and make sure they are compatible with the existing boiler or heat source.
• Think about how the occupants actually use the house. Clever controls are not clever if nobody can understand them.
• And before moving on to expensive improvements, test what better control of the system you already have might achieve.
What does this mean for your home?
For a landlord, heating controls can offer useful EPC points with relatively little cost or disruption. If a property is close to its target, they deserve serious attention.
For a homeowner, the bigger prize may be comfort and control. Heating different parts of the house only when they need it can make an existing system considerably more useful.
Before replacing equipment that still has plenty of life left in it, make sure the system is actually being controlled properly.
BENCH SURVEY NOTE
Before changing the heating, make sure you’re controlling it properly.