Many homeowners assume that improving their EPC score requires expensive renovations — but that’s not true. In fact, several small, low-cost upgrades can significantly increase your EPC rating and improve your home’s overall energy efficiency.

Before you start making changes, it helps to know your current EPC status:
👉 Book Your EPC Assessment


1. Switch to 100% LED Lighting (Instant EPC Points)

Lighting is one of the easiest EPC improvements.
EPC assessors look specifically at:

  • What percentage of your lights are low-energy

  • Whether LEDs have fully replaced traditional incandescent bulbs

Upgrading all bulbs to LED can often boost a property by one band.

Check what assessors review here:
👉 EPC Services – EPC Assessors London


2. Draught-Proofing Doors and Windows

Small gaps around:

  • Doors

  • Window frames

  • Letterboxes

  • Loft hatches

…can lead to large heat losses.
Affordable draught strips and sealants can prevent warm air escaping and help your property score higher for heat retention.


3. Add Smart Heating Controls

A surprising EPC win is simply improving how your heating is controlled.

Small additions such as:

  • Programmable thermostats

  • Smart thermostats

  • Timer controls

  • Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)

…give you an efficiency boost without replacing the boiler.


4. Improve Hot Water Cylinder Insulation

If you have a hot water cylinder, this is one of the cheapest upgrades that EPC software rewards.

Add:

  • A cylinder jacket

  • Pipe insulation

  • Better thermostat controls

These small adjustments reduce heat loss and improve your hot water efficiency score.


5. Add Draft Covers to Unused Fireplaces

Older homes with open, unused chimneys lose significant heat.
A simple chimney balloon or draught excluder is extremely effective — and recognised in EPC assessments as an improvement.


6. Replace Worn Window Seals

You don’t always need new double glazing.
Often, replacing:

  • Perished rubber seals

  • Loose beadings

  • Damaged locking mechanisms

…can improve airtightness enough to influence EPC results.


7. Improve Radiator Efficiency with Reflective Foil

Radiator reflectors behind external-wall radiators help prevent heat loss.
They’re:

  • Cheap

  • Easy to install

  • Recognised as heat-loss prevention

A quick DIY fix with real EPC benefits.


8. Do a Loft Insulation Top-Up

If your loft insulation is:

  • Patchy

  • Compressed

  • Below 270mm

A simple top-up boosts your EPC score fast.
This is one of the most impactful small improvements you can make for the cost.


9. Upgrade Old Extractor Fans

Efficient extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms help with ventilation and reduce moisture-related energy loss. Modern fans with timers or humidity sensors perform better and are EPC-friendly.


10. Provide Documentation to Your Assessor

One of the easiest EPC mistakes homeowners make is not presenting upgrade evidence, such as:

  • Loft insulation certificates

  • Window installation paperwork

  • Boiler commissioning sheets

  • Heating control manuals

If the assessor can’t verify an upgrade, they must assume the lowest rating for that element.

Learn more about how assessments are done:
👉 About EPCrate


Small Fixes → Big EPC Results

These changes are:

  • Affordable

  • Fast

  • Non-invasive

  • Recognised instantly in EPC software

When combined, they can move a property from Band E to D, or D to C, without major spending.


Ready to Improve Your EPC? Start Here

Book your EPC today to see where your property stands:
👉 Book an EPC Assessment

View fees before scheduling:
👉 EPC Pricing

Have questions about improvements?
👉 Contact EPCrate

Email :info@epcrate.co.uk

Phone:020 34884142