Failed EPC

[Earthstore]

"Earthstore, why do you jump in with both feet before knowing all the facts."

Sorry Jason. do you remember that quote??
At least mine was only advice, but installing PV without the EPC facts, come on, really..

I feel that your assessor has cocked up somewhere though, and I truly hope that you can sort it.

 

[Ian-LS]

We actually get the EPC afterwards but only on houses we know will already have an EPC of D such as houses built in the last 30 years with most boxes ticked. The older properties with solid walls we will get a predictive EPC done as if the solar has been installed that why we can install with confidence knowing the property will have an EPC of at least D.

 

[SolarRoofSols]

We always get it done before, unless the homeowner already has an EPC. The assessor doesn't lodge the case if it has not met a D, if PV will push it into the D bracket, he revisits after the installation to fulfill his requirements for his accrediting body and then lodges. It costs a little more but I prefer to know 100%.

I hope you get it sorted.

 

[SRE]

Something seems wrong with that score to me. Why don't you have another EPC done with a different assessor and re-lodge. With what you have said about the property along with the PV surely it would be a D.

We get these all the time - regardless of the person doing the EPC. Back boilers are around 60% efficient, even natural gas ones struggle to get a decent rating unless there's substantial insulation & double glazing. Add lpg and you're doomed. It's rural discrimination clear and simple - if you have access to natural gas then you have to spend a lot less than on getting an EPC of D than if you're off the natural gas grid. Infuriating!

We had an F rating last week for a 1991 property with full cavity wall and loft insulation, zoned heating and double glazing. The reason - wet electric heating. It was going to cost the best part of 4-5k to put new oil central heating in and his bills would have been higher because his electric heating runs off peak 5.4p/kwh instead of 6.7p/kwh for oil. He'd have achieved a D rating with it though and could have had his pv at 15.4p. We did the decent thing - told the truth and lost a sale

 

[jason121]

"Earthstore, why do you jump in with both feet before knowing all the facts."

Sorry Jason. do you remember that quote??
At least mine was only advice, but installing PV without the EPC facts, come on, really..

I feel that your assessor has cocked up somewhere though, and I truly hope that you can sort it.

I leave it for the assessor to book in the appointments. I send him the information and install dates and he decides when to turn up. He is young and its his first LPG system on a back boiler. Live and learn the hard way. Told him to do the EPC before the installs last night :6:

 

[Gavin A]

Yes agree that doesn't add up. The rating should be more like C at least.

not with an old back boiler it wouldn't, but I would have thought it would be a high E / low D with the PV.

I'm assuming it must be detached, which also makes a fair amount of difference as it's got all 4 walls losing heat to the outside.

I'd think the best bet is going to be to persuade the customer to wait to submit the fit application until the boiler is sorted out, and see if they can bring that forward - renewable heat premium payments have just doubled which might help?

 

[Greenday]

Do another EPC but don't use the Product Characteristics Database use SAP instead. On the Stroma software you can select pre 1998 LPG with open flue. There is no drop down for an LPG back boiler.

I still think this job would gain a D anyway. It would if I was doing the EPC

 

[jason121]

With lot of apologies and the options you guys gave me, I sold him a ASHP. Close shave. Thanks for all the input guys much appreciated.

 

[Earthstore]

I am glad you sorted it and it will pay dividends for the customer too...

 

[Eco Deal]

Did you all know your assessor can do a lodge EPC befor before the install then you can ask them to give you a draft copy with the solar panels on so you can see the rating of the house with solar in draft ?

its common sense !

if you sold the system and said you would get the higher tarriff and it does not then your stuffed but if you told them it depend on the EPC the you are ok.

 

[Gavin A]

Did you all know your assessor can do a lodge EPC befor before the install then you can ask them to give you a draft copy with the solar panels on so you can see the rating of the house with solar in draft ?

its common sense !

if you sold the system and said you would get the higher tarriff and it does not then your stuffed but if you told them it depend on the EPC the you are ok.

yes, but unfortunately the EPC bodies got firmly instructed that if the EPC assessor did this, then he still had to go back and take full pictures of everything again after the installation before lodging the EPC to include the solar panels, so doing a pre and post install epc means 2 full visits to site.

All of which is a complete waste of time and money and results in situations like this, but that's what happens when the body that's charged by parliament with reducing the regulatory burden on the energy industry is also the body charged with setting the rules, and trying to use every trick in the book to keep fit costs down for government.

The original way of doing things was far more sensible, doing the EPC visit prior to the solar installation, then just accepting a photo and MCS cert as evidence that the solar installation had been carried out. But Ofgem don't do sensible.

 

[sedgy34]

3kw PV

Is your customer eligible for Eco funding he could get an a rated boiler and then you may get your D & its free
just a thought

 

[jason121]

dont think so they are on bottled gas

 

[sedgy34]

For your ref
Glowworm combis come with a setting for bottled gas they will work

 

[jason121]

got them funding for ASHP