Plumbing - ''Make eco improvements now'', DIY expert advises

21/11/2007

Homeowners need to consider making environmentally-friendly heating updates now if they are thinking of selling in a couple of years, a DIY industry expert has claimed.

As Home Improvement Packs (Hips) become mandatory, their impact on the housing market and on the value of homes will be marked in just a few years time, Andrew Leech technical consultant to the National Home Improvement Council said.

"We are going to reach a stage, and it's not too far away now - within the next couple of years, where mortgages and getting a mortgage on a house will tie in with how efficient the house is.

"Anyone who has an inefficient house and is thinking of selling in a couple of years time maybe ought to think about whether their house is efficient; do they have the right size boiler, have they got an insulated loft, if they have cavity walls, do they have them insulated?"

He added: "The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) in Hips will give you a rating on this and it will be seen by the prospective buyer. It is something you will have to take in to consideration."

Heat and Plumb sells a wide range of alternative heating solutions through which to improve the green credentials of your home.

These include energy-efficient boilers from Trianco, Vokera and Vailant.