Property assessment
What to expect from a heating assessment
A proper assessment should look at the building, heat demand, existing system, available space and the practical work needed for installation.
Core checks
What will the assessor look at?
The aim is to understand how the building loses heat, how the household uses heating and hot water, and what changes may be needed.
The level of detail should be enough to support a suitable system design and a clear quotation.
Wall type, floor type, roof, windows, age and any extensions or conversions.
Loft, wall, floor and glazing improvements, plus obvious draughts or weak areas.
Measurements used to estimate room-by-room heat loss and emitter requirements.
Current boiler or heaters, radiators, pipework, controls and known problems.
Household size, bathing habits, existing cylinder and available storage space.
Outdoor space, access, noise considerations, electrical supply and planning limitations.
During the visit
How the assessment may progress
- Discuss your goals The assessor asks about comfort, costs, current problems, preferred technology and project timing.
- Inspect the building Rooms, insulation, windows, access and existing heating equipment are reviewed.
- Measure key areas Room sizes, radiator dimensions, pipework and possible equipment locations may be recorded.
- Review technical constraints Electrical capacity, hot-water storage, outdoor space, ground access or fuel storage are checked where relevant.
- Explain suitable options The assessor should outline which technologies appear practical and what additional work may be needed.
- Prepare the design and quotation The collected information is used to size equipment and define the proposed scope of work.
Room-by-room review
Why individual rooms matter
Corner rooms, large windows and exposed walls can increase the heating requirement.
Radiators or indoor units should be checked against the heat needed in each room.
Bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms may be used differently and need different temperatures.
Existing pipe sizes and routes may affect whether upgrades or alterations are required.
The layout may allow separate schedules or temperatures in different parts of the property.
Furniture, flooring, wall finishes and room use can influence how work is planned.
Technology-specific checks
What changes by heating type?
Outdoor-unit location, airflow, noise, condensate drainage and radiator suitability.
Land, borehole access, geology, pipe routes and space for internal equipment.
Indoor-unit positions, airflow, condensate drainage and room-by-room coverage.
Fuel storage, delivery access, plant space, ventilation and flue arrangements.
Cylinder size, cupboard space, pipe routes and household demand.
Existing capacity, consumer unit, cable routes and any upgrade requirements.
The installer should carry out the checks needed for the system being proposed rather than relying on a generic survey.
Before the visit
What should you prepare?
Useful information
- Recent energy bills or annual consumption
- Details of insulation improvements
- Age and type of the current heating system
- Known heating or hot-water problems
- Plans for extensions or renovation
- Preferred rooms and comfort levels
Useful access
- Boiler, cylinder and control locations
- Loft, meter and consumer-unit access
- Outdoor areas and side passages
- Radiators and visible pipework
- Potential equipment locations
- Fuel storage or ground areas where relevant
Questions to ask
What should you clarify with the assessor?
About the design
- How was the heat demand calculated?
- Why is this technology being recommended?
- What operating temperatures are assumed?
- Which radiators or components need changing?
- What comfort level is the system designed to provide?
About the work
- What electrical or building work is required?
- What disruption should be expected?
- What is excluded from the quotation?
- Who will complete each part of the installation?
- What warranties and aftercare are included?
Common questions
Property assessment FAQs
How long does a property assessment take?
It depends on the property and proposed system. A detailed assessment usually takes longer than a quick sales visit because measurements and technical checks are needed.
Do all rooms need to be accessible?
Access to as much of the property as possible helps the assessor build a more accurate room-by-room picture.
Will the assessor need to see my energy bills?
They are not always essential, but annual consumption can help compare the proposed system with current energy use.
Can the final price change after the visit?
A proper visit should reduce uncertainty, but hidden defects, access issues or later changes to the agreed scope can still affect cost.
Should I receive the assessment results in writing?
You should receive a written proposal or quotation that explains the recommended system, included work, exclusions and assumptions.
Next step
Request a property assessment
Tell us about your home, current heating and preferred upgrade. An installer or adviser can then contact you to discuss the property in more detail.