When looking for a house to move to, it’s worth considering how much it will cost to keep the home warm. Here are some ways to get a rough idea.
An obvious first step is to ask the current occupiers of the home what their current energy costs are. If your household’s lifestyle is different, this will affect what you will pay. For example, if everyone in your family is at work or in school during the day, energy costs will be less than those of an old person who is at home most of the time with the heating on.
Of course, the cost of keeping a home warm is related to its size. If you are moving to a large house, expect costly energy bills.
Older homes tend to be less energy efficient than new builds. If the home’s energy performance certificate (EPC) is low, be prepared to upgrade the insulation to lower energy bills. You could be entitled to an energy grant towards the cost.
If you spot dampness, mould, droughts or condensation, this indicates that heat is escaping from the house, causing higher energy costs; this will need to be fixed.
Be sure to find out how old the boiler is. If it is 15 years or older, it is probably not very energy efficient and should be replaced to lower energy bills.
Talk to Xgas about the cost of a new boiler installation in the Wrexham, Chester or Oswestry area.
