Is your property in need of a facelift? Do those drafty windows make your wallet feel uneasy? You might not have to spend a lot of money to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Perhaps your bathroom needs a refresh, or your kitchen could benefit from a modern makeover. You want to make these upgrades, but the cost may be too much. So, hold on! Did you know that there is a free boiler scheme available in the UK to help homeowners to improve their homes? These incentives might provide a huge financial boost for making your dream home improvements a reality. Let’s get started and see how you can make your home remodeling dreams a reality while staying within your budget.
What is the free boiler scheme, exactly?
Call it a helpful hand for homeowners in the UK. This is not one particular program. It’s a nickname for a subset of the larger government project known as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). One of these goals is to help low-income households become more energy efficient. This is where free boiler replacements come in! So, if you qualify, you can have a brand-new, high-efficiency boiler installed for free. This means no upfront costs and no delving into your funds.
Who Qualifies?
Remember that not everyone qualifies for the grant. It’s for people who actually need heating solutions with energy efficiency. To qualify for a free boiler grant, you must either own your home or rent it privately.
- Your boiler should be an older, non-condensing model.
- Your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) grade should be D or lower.
Moreover, you or anyone living with you must be recipient of any of the following benefits:
Qualifying benefits
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Child Benefit
- Free Boiler on Universal Credit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- Income Based JSA
Also, pensioners over 60 years of age in receipt of pension credits and other types of benefits qualify.
Why Submit a Boiler Grant Application?
Upgrading a gas boiler and installing special heat control valves normally costs between £1,400 and £10,000. And this is beyond the means of the average tenant.
Even this difference is dependent on fuel type, system characteristics, home size, and installation difficulty. Those who cannot afford this expense may struggle to heat their homes during the cold.
Another issue that free boiler grants can help with is fuel poverty, which affects many UK households. Fuel poverty occurs when a household spends a significant portion of its income on energy and heating bills.
What if I don’t qualify for free boiler grant?
You might be eligible for a new boiler grant in the UK. If not, there are more options that you can think about. In one way or another, the government tries to provide eligible households with incentives that can help them get new boilers. So if you do not qualify for these, there are alternative methods to seek assistance. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that a new boiler with thermostatic valves will cost roughly £4,000. Heating accounts for approximately 55% of the average household energy bill, so switching to a more energy-efficient boiler could save you hundreds of dollars in energy bills each year.
Get a free boiler from top brands
Boilers older than 2005 are eligible for a replacement under the free boiler grant scheme. The plan also offers the following brands:
Vaillant: Vaillant is another German heating and ventilation company noted for its innovative and environmentally friendly heating solutions, such as boilers
and heat pumps.
Worcester Bosch: Worcester is a famous UK boiler manufacturer known for producing high-quality and energy-efficient heating systems, such as boilers and renewable technologies.
Alpha: Alpha manufactures a wide range of energy-efficient boilers. It focuses on reliability and efficacy.
Viessmann: Viessmann, a German heating and cooling systems company is well-known for its cutting-edge technology and sustainable heating solutions, including a wide selection of boilers and renewable energy products.
Ideal: It is a well-known British heating brand that produces reliable and highly effective boilers. It provides a variety of heating options for houses.
Bottom line
Free boiler grants are really beneficial when it comes to home improvement. If you qualify, you can replace your old boiler with a fresh new, more energy-efficient boiler. If your home does not have a mains gas connection, you can still apply for air-source heat pumps. Additionally, in some situations, applicants receive solar panels and central heating systems. So, if you believe you qualify for these grants, what are you waiting for? Apply today to enhance your home.
