How to Prepare for Your EPC: Essential Tips for Home Occupiers to Improve Your Energy Rating Ahead of Assessment
A Domestic Energy Assessment is a key requirement for anyone selling or letting a property, providing an official Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that rates your home’s energy efficiency. As an Elmhurst‑accredited domestic energy assessor, Building Compliance Testing delivers accurate, compliant EPCs across Maldon and the surrounding areas.
A little preparation before your assessment can help ensure your EPC rating reflects your home’s true performance — and in some cases, even improve it. Below is a complete guide for home occupiers on how to get ready for your EPC visit.
1. Fit Low‑Energy Lighting Throughout the Property
EPC software records how many fixed light fittings use low‑energy lamps. The more LEDs you have, the better your score.
- Replace halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs
- Check all fixed fittings, especially kitchens, bathrooms and hallways
- LEDs are inexpensive and offer immediate EPC benefits
2. Ensure Your Hot Water Cylinder and Pipework Is Well Insulated
If your home has a hot water tank, insulation makes a measurable difference.
- Fit a modern cylinder jacket if insulation is thin or missing
- Aim for at least 80mm of insulation
- Good insulation reduces heat loss and improves your EPC rating
- Ensure primary pipework around your heating system is well insulated, for example using lagging insulation
3. Loft Insulation: Visibility and Evidence Matter
Loft insulation is one of the biggest contributors to EPC performance.
If the assessor cannot see the insulation — due to restricted access or boarded lofts — it must be recorded as “unknown”, which can negatively affect your rating.
To avoid this:
- Ensure safe access to the loft
- Clear a small area of boarding if insulation is hidden
- Provide installation certificates if insulation cannot be seen
4. Provide Evidence of Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity wall insulation significantly boosts EPC scores. If the walls are rendered or insulation is not visible, we must assume no insulation unless evidence is provided.
Please have available:
- Installation certificates
- CIGA guarantees
- Any documentation confirming insulation type and date
5. Window Installation Dates Can Improve Your Score
Double‑glazed windows installed after 2002 are assumed to meet higher energy standards — but only if the date is visible or documented.
If the date stamp is missing:
- Provide FENSA certificates
- Supply installation invoices or guarantees
- Any paperwork confirming the installation year is helpful
6. Boiler Information: Manuals and Service Records Help
Identifying the exact make and model of your boiler allows the assessor to use the correct efficiency rating rather than a generic default.
To help us record this accurately:
- Provide the boiler manual
- Have service records or installation paperwork ready
- Ensure the boiler is safely accessible
7. Secondary Heating & Room Heaters
EPCs also record secondary heating sources, such as:
- Wood‑burning stoves
- Gas fires
- Electric room heaters
- Open fires
To ensure accurate assessment:
- Make sure heaters are visible and accessible
- Provide manufacturer details if available
- Confirm whether they are regularly used or decorative only
Correct identification can influence your EPC rating. In most cases secondary heating can actual reduce the overall energy rating.
8. Building Control & Planning Documentation
If your property has had extensions, loft conversions, conservatories or structural alterations, providing documentation helps ensure the EPC reflects the correct construction type and insulation levels.
Useful documents include:
- Building Control completion certificates
- Planning permission approvals
- Architect drawings
- SAP or insulation specifications
- Certificates for upgraded roofs, walls or floors
Without evidence, the assessor must make conservative assumptions that may lower the EPC score.
9. Access to All Rooms, External Openings and the Loft
To complete the assessment efficiently and accurately:
- Ensure all rooms can be accessed, and especially cupboards where electricity and gas meters are located
- Unlock any outbuildings or extensions that form part of the dwelling
- Provide access to the loft hatch
- Ensure windows and external doors can be opened
- Clear obstructions around the boiler, hot water tank and meters
Full access ensures accurate data collection and avoids default assumptions.
10. Ventilation: Ensure Extract Fans and Airflow Features Are Visible
Ventilation plays an important role in energy performance and moisture control. During an EPC assessment, we record the presence and type of extract fans, trickle vents, and passive ventilation systems.
To help us assess these accurately:
- Ensure kitchen and bathroom extract fans are visible
- Check that trickle vents are not painted shut
- Make mechanical ventilation systems accessible
- Provide documentation for any ventilation upgrades
- Confirm whether rooms rely on passive vents or air bricks
Correctly identifying ventilation helps ensure the EPC reflects the property’s actual performance.
11. Airtightness and Draught‑Proofing
While EPCs do not include a full airtightness test, the assessment does record features that influence air permeability and heat loss. We can however provide this service as part of the domestic energy assessment.
Before the visit:
- Ensure external doors and windows can be opened
- Highlight any draught‑proofing measures
- Provide evidence of airtightness improvements
- Ensure loft hatches and access panels are not obstructed
- Confirm whether unused chimneys are vented or sealed
Good airtightness reduces heat loss and can contribute to a more favourable EPC rating when paired with adequate ventilation.
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Improve your EPC rating with the essential pre‑assessment hints & tips.
Preparing for your domestic energy assessment helps ensure your EPC rating is as accurate and favourable as possible. Small steps — from fitting LED bulbs to providing insulation paperwork — can make a meaningful difference.
If you’re ready to book your EPC, Building Compliance Testing offers:
- Elmhurst‑accredited assessments
- Fast turnaround
- Clear, compliant reporting
- Local expertise across Maldon and surrounding areas