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Grants for free boilers can be claimed in the UK until March 2017 via a new central heating boiler replacement scheme. The is part of the Government’s Energy Companies Obligation (ECO). ECO is designed to help low-income households cut their energy bills and reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by installing efficient A-rated gas boilers free of charge.
Boiler efficiency Heating your radiators & hot water normally accounts for over half the money you spend on gas bills. So if your boiler is broken or not functioning efficiently enough you may be spending £100’s more than you need to on an annual basis.
Many boilers installed in homes in the UK have an energy rating between C (82-86% efficiency) & G (Under 70% efficiency) if they are over five years old. This means that a lot of energy & therefore your money is being wasted.
All boilers fitted in homes must now have an A-rating (Over 90%). So if your boiler has any of the lower ratings it is actually obsolete and needs replaced.
Boilers supplied and fitted via the free boiler grant scheme are A-rated gas condensing boilers. Condensing boilers are designed to heat water with greater efficiency. This is achieved by using the waste heat to preheat the cold water as it enters the boiler from the mains cold tap before it reaches the burner element. This function means it costs less to heat your home.
Types of boiler Most properties in the UK which are heated by mains gas will have one of three types of boiler installed as part of their central heating / hot water system. Each of these types can be replaced via the ECO boiler scheme. As part of the short online grant application process you will be asked which type of boiler you have, so it is important to know the different characteristics of each.
Wall mounted boilers – Many modern homes in the UK have boilers which are fastened to an interior wall instead of resting on the floor.
This will often be a combination boiler, which heats water from your mains cold tap without the need for a water storage tank.
Wall mounted boilers are often fitted in properties which have limited storage space, including modern properties & flats.
Floor standing boilers – A floor standing boiler is designed to fit in an airing cupboard or any other storage cupboard.
This type of boiler can be integrated functions and act as a burner for heating your water & a storage tank combined.
It may also act as a stand alone boiler / burner to heat water stored in a tank elsewhere in the building, in the loft or attic for example.
Back boilers – A back boiler is hidden behind a fire and often situated in your living room or lounge, but can be located in almost any part of your property.
Your fire is used to provide heat to heat your hot water supply and central heating / radiators.
A back boiler can be fueled by fuel other than mains gas. However to qualify for a free boiler via the ECO grant scheme, if you have a back boiler it must be gas fueled.
The ECO (Energy Company Obligation) is a Government backed energy-saving home improvement scheme which runs in parallel with the Green Deal and is funded by the big six UK energy suppliers. ECO is made of of three individual components –
Carbon Saving Obligation Provides non-repayable funding to insulate hard-to-treat cavity walls and solid wall properties with free external or internal wall insulation.
Carbon Saving Communities Obligation Provides home insulation for families who live in deprived and rurally remote areas of the UK
Affordable Warmth Obligation This component is designed to provide heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households. Boiler grants are available to help home owners & private tenants who claim certain benefits & Tax Credits make their homes more energy-efficient. Funding is income-related but many single parents, pensioners & the elderly will qualify for a free boiler upgrade.
If you receive Income Support, Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income-Related Employment Support Allowance one extra condition must also apply from the following.
Benefits and savings
Powering your gas boiler accounts for 55 – 60 % of your annual heating / energy bills, so installing an energy efficient boiler can mean huge energy savings.
Annual Savings
Replacing an old gas boiler with an A-rated condensing boiler and improving your heating controls will significantly cut your home’s carbon dioxide emissions –
If you think you may be eligible for a free boiler grant the application process is easy. There are no complicated terms & conditions. If your boiler is old or inefficient, providing you own or privately rent your home (or are a private landlord with tenants in your property(s)), and you meet the benefit / income-related requirements you can follow our easy online application process to claim a free boiler grant.
Begin your application with our easy online process. It should take no more than five minutes. You will be asked some questions about your property type & number of bedrooms, your existing boiler & heating and your benefit / income status. This is done anonymously with no personal details required unless you qualify. Your information will never be shared except with the installer if you qualify for a free boiler.
We will call you back within a day or two to confirm your application and qualification for a new boiler.
Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation help stop heat escaping through the walls and attic of your home. Around 35% of heat in your home is lost through the external walls and 25% through your roof. This alone means that 60 % of heat generated by your boiler & heating system is being wasted.
Combine this with a boiler that is only functioning at 60-70% efficiency and it adds up to a lot of energy and money being wasted.
The ECO free boiler & insulation grant scheme has been set up to address this waste of energy and lower your fuel bills, and to improve your carbon footprint by lowering CO2 emissions.
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