The central heating is one of the most important parts of your home, providing you with the heat you’ll need all year round for both space and hot water. This means that if a boiler does breakdown or fault you can be left without this vital heat for as long as it takes to bring in an engineer.
But is there any way you could receive a free boiler to avoid paying the installation costs of a new system? Fortunately there are some schemes available to help homeowners in the UK, so you could receive a grant or loan.
First off there’s the Energy Company Obligation. This is a scheme run by the Government, but funded by the UK’s energy suppliers, such as British Gas, npower and EDF. The main idea is to help homeowners who receive a low income benefit from a free boiler to help them reduce their expensive energy bills.
This free boiler scheme is open to householders and landlords in England, Scotland and Wales. There are certain qualification criteria, with some sort of income related support vital. On top of this you’ll need to have a boiler which is 10 years old or more, and this will be replaced with an A-rated system. Of course, a Gas Safe registered engineer will complete the installation.
But what if you don’t qualify for this Energy Company Obligation scheme? Are there other options than needing to save £2,000 for a replacement system?
Although not technically a free boiler, with the Government’s Green Deal scheme you can have a new boiler installed for no upfront cost. This is because a loan is provided to cover installation costs, which is then repaid with the money saved on energy bills. It’s a brilliant option if your boiler is old and faulty and you don’t have the money to replace.
The Green Deal Finance Scheme covers many home energy efficiency measures, not just boilers. You could also benefit from cavity wall insulation, loft lagging and double glazed windows.
So when it comes to replacing your old boiler, there are options available for every homeowner in the UK. Whether you receive a free boiler as part of the Energy Company Obligation, or take advantage of the Green Deal offerings, start reducing your heating bills with an A rated system and become more environmentally friendly.
Facts & Figures You’ll Love To Share
- [tweetable alt=””]Heating accounts for around 60% of the annual household bill and a new boiler can slash expenses.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]By replacing your old and inefficient boiler you can save up to £310 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Energy prices have doubled since 2004 and will double again by 2020, so secure your energy future with an A-rated boiler.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]An annual boiler service costs between £50 and £100 but could save you hundreds of pounds on future repair work.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]With a new boiler you can slash carbon dioxide emissions by a whopping 1,200kg each year.[/tweetable]