Pensioners looking to take advantage of the scheme have been urged to check first if they are eligible for a Warm Front grant – or risk missing out on £3,500.
Pensioners and low-income households receiving benefits can apply for help purchasing and installing a new boiler under the Warm Front scheme, which could cover the cost in full.
If they apply for the scrappage scheme instead, they will forfeit their right to the Warm Front funding.
The maximum available under the Warm Front scheme is £3,500, which can help pay for loft insulation, draught-proofing and repairs to an existing heating system, as well as a new boiler.
If you receive income support, council tax benefit, housing benefit or pension credit you are advised to apply to the Warm Front scheme.
Grants are tiered according to needs and income and more information is available at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. If your application to the Warm Front scheme is unsuccessful, you can still apply for the boiler scrappage scheme.
The £400 scrappage vouchers will be sent out from January 18 and applications can be made by calling 0800 512012 or emailing boilerscrappage@est.org.uk with your contact details and current boiler make and model.
full article
Friday 8 January 2010
Thursday 7 January 2010
The cost of boiler breakdown cover
Research from consumer organisation Which? found that nearly one in three of all new boilers will break down within their first six years of operation, with repair costs often running into hundreds of pounds.
For example, according to website boiler-care.co.uk , to sort out a problem with a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat from the hot gases to the circulating water and is one of the most common breakdown problems, would cost around £325.
You should also bear in mind that if you have a new boiler, this sort of cover may not be necessary at all, as you may already be covered for breakdowns by a warranty.
You should also check with your household insurer that emergency breakdown isn't already covered by your home policy, although often even when it is, cover limits tend to be relatively low.
Some insurers include it as standard in their buildings cover. For example, Legal & General includes home emergency cover of up to £150 to cover call-out fees, labour costs and materials.
Prudential also automatically includes home emergency cover in its home insurance policies. This covers call out fees, parts, labour and materials up to £250 per call-out for emergencies relating to the main source of heating in the home.
It also covers emergencies relating to electricity supply, internal plumbing and drainage, as well as locks, doors and windows.
If you are claiming benefits, then paying for cover could again be unnecessary, as you may be eligible for a Warm Front grant of up to £3,500 to cover you for boiler repairs or replacement.
People aged over 60 who don't qualify for a grant may still be able to get a £300 rebate on work carried out on a system that is inoperable. For more information, visit the website www.warmfront.co.uk , or telephone 0800 316 2808.
full article
For example, according to website boiler-care.co.uk , to sort out a problem with a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat from the hot gases to the circulating water and is one of the most common breakdown problems, would cost around £325.
You should also bear in mind that if you have a new boiler, this sort of cover may not be necessary at all, as you may already be covered for breakdowns by a warranty.
You should also check with your household insurer that emergency breakdown isn't already covered by your home policy, although often even when it is, cover limits tend to be relatively low.
Some insurers include it as standard in their buildings cover. For example, Legal & General includes home emergency cover of up to £150 to cover call-out fees, labour costs and materials.
Prudential also automatically includes home emergency cover in its home insurance policies. This covers call out fees, parts, labour and materials up to £250 per call-out for emergencies relating to the main source of heating in the home.
It also covers emergencies relating to electricity supply, internal plumbing and drainage, as well as locks, doors and windows.
If you are claiming benefits, then paying for cover could again be unnecessary, as you may be eligible for a Warm Front grant of up to £3,500 to cover you for boiler repairs or replacement.
People aged over 60 who don't qualify for a grant may still be able to get a £300 rebate on work carried out on a system that is inoperable. For more information, visit the website www.warmfront.co.uk , or telephone 0800 316 2808.
full article
Wednesday 6 January 2010
Does my boiler need replacing?
If you have a G-rated boiler or below, the chances are it's less than efficient. That's why British Gas is ready to help you replace it now with our £400 boiler scrappage discount. Combined with the government's new £400 boiler scrappage allowance, you will be able to claim £800* towards the cost of getting a new energy-efficient boiler installed.
You can use our guide below to establish your boiler's rating and to see how much money you could save by replacing your boiler.
What do I do next?
* 1 - Do a check on our tool below to see if you have a G or X rated boiler with an efficiency rating of less than 70%.
* 2 - Call us now to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced heating advisers.
* 3 - Contact the Energy Savings Trust on 0800 512 012 to claim your £400 allowance from the government.
Please note that the Energy Savings Trust will not issue a voucher without confirmation that you have a quote for a new boiler.
HOW EFFICIENT IS MY BOILER?
You can use our guide below to establish your boiler's rating and to see how much money you could save by replacing your boiler.
What do I do next?
* 1 - Do a check on our tool below to see if you have a G or X rated boiler with an efficiency rating of less than 70%.
* 2 - Call us now to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced heating advisers.
* 3 - Contact the Energy Savings Trust on 0800 512 012 to claim your £400 allowance from the government.
Please note that the Energy Savings Trust will not issue a voucher without confirmation that you have a quote for a new boiler.
HOW EFFICIENT IS MY BOILER?
Tuesday 5 January 2010
Is my boiler G-rated?
A government scrappage scheme that gives people £400 off on the price of a new boiler has been launched today.
Up to 125,000 households in England could benefit from the £50million scheme, which was announced in the pre-budget report as an incentive to install greener heating.
Energy firms including British Gas and NPower have already pledged to match the payment, creating households a £800 discount on new boilers.
According to the government, a new boiler could cut a family's heating bills by about £235 a year.
In total, the scheme would cut as much carbon as taking 45,000 cars off the road and would help secure about 250,000 jobs of boiler makers and installers, the government said.
To qualify, a household must have a working boiler of the lowest efficiency G rating.
There are about 3.5million homes in England with such boilers, although the scheme is only open to the first 125,000 who apply.
The old devices must be replaced with top efficiency A-rated boilers or renewable heating systems like biomass boilers or heat pumps.
The price of a new boiler is about £2,500, most of which would still be paid by the householder.
Only home owners and landlords who privately rent out homes qualify.
The scheme does not apply to Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, as their devolved authorities have to decide whether to run it.
Is my boiler G-rated?
The Energy Saving Trust said a boiler is likely to be G rated if:
* If it has a permanent pilot light;
* If it is gas fired and over 15 years old; or
* If it is oil fired and over 25 years old.
Householders can also check the Energy Saving Trust's scrappage scheme guide for more information.
How do I apply?
Once you have established that you qualify:
1. Get several quotes for the installation of a new boiler. Suppliers must visit your home for this and give a proper quote on paper.
2. Apply to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) with your name, address, details of your old boiler, the type of new boiler you want, quote prices, supplier details and confirmation that the installer visited your home.
3. You will then recieve a cashback voucher from the EST. Wait until you get this voucher before you start the installation, or you will lose the money.
4. Pay the installer in full.
5. Send the invoice and voucher to the EST, who will then refund you £400.
full article
Up to 125,000 households in England could benefit from the £50million scheme, which was announced in the pre-budget report as an incentive to install greener heating.
Energy firms including British Gas and NPower have already pledged to match the payment, creating households a £800 discount on new boilers.
According to the government, a new boiler could cut a family's heating bills by about £235 a year.
In total, the scheme would cut as much carbon as taking 45,000 cars off the road and would help secure about 250,000 jobs of boiler makers and installers, the government said.
To qualify, a household must have a working boiler of the lowest efficiency G rating.
There are about 3.5million homes in England with such boilers, although the scheme is only open to the first 125,000 who apply.
The old devices must be replaced with top efficiency A-rated boilers or renewable heating systems like biomass boilers or heat pumps.
The price of a new boiler is about £2,500, most of which would still be paid by the householder.
Only home owners and landlords who privately rent out homes qualify.
The scheme does not apply to Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, as their devolved authorities have to decide whether to run it.
Is my boiler G-rated?
The Energy Saving Trust said a boiler is likely to be G rated if:
* If it has a permanent pilot light;
* If it is gas fired and over 15 years old; or
* If it is oil fired and over 25 years old.
Householders can also check the Energy Saving Trust's scrappage scheme guide for more information.
How do I apply?
Once you have established that you qualify:
1. Get several quotes for the installation of a new boiler. Suppliers must visit your home for this and give a proper quote on paper.
2. Apply to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) with your name, address, details of your old boiler, the type of new boiler you want, quote prices, supplier details and confirmation that the installer visited your home.
3. You will then recieve a cashback voucher from the EST. Wait until you get this voucher before you start the installation, or you will lose the money.
4. Pay the installer in full.
5. Send the invoice and voucher to the EST, who will then refund you £400.
full article
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
