Warm Front Grant saved me a fortune!

A question about : Warm Front Grant saved me a fortune!

Through this site and applying for a Warm Front Grant I am getting my boiler repaired (plumber quoted Ј230 just for the part!), draughtproofing, gas vent (required in cupboard where the boiler is) and have been sent a pack of 12 energy saving lightbulbs.

Best answers:

• We got a new boiler in Feb it cost around Ј1500 plus labour so they told me. They said to me they replace boilers if they are around 8 years of ages and providing your on a low income, or on certain state benefits you may be entitled to a grant for heating, loft installation, wall insulation.
• My boiler wasn't old enough to replace - it needed a new circuit board. Had hoped to get some extra radiators put in but they only do a max of 5 rads and only when they replace a boiler.
• How do I try to apply for one of those? My boiler is 17 years old and I've been worrying in case it breaks down on me. Does it matter who you have your gas and electric from?
• Hi Lady you can claim these if you ring Eaga partership
  https://www.eaga.co.uk/Grants/warm_front.htm
  If you own your home, or rent it from a private landlord, you may be able to claim a grant of up to Ј2700 under the Warm Front Scheme.
  The following people may be able to claim a grant under Warm Front:
  1.Householders aged 60 or over and are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• Pension Credit

OR

• I have just has Eaga round today to inpsetc the work as a 3rd party do the installation. The chap said that the boiler is the bets on the market, his words "if it was a car it would be a Rolls Royce". It has a wireless timer too.
• I have amended that post, thanks.
  I made a new post the same day with all the relevant information
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=186113
• Hi
  I rang them and they are going to send me some papers. If I do find I am eligible do you think they might say that because the boiler is working that I can't have a new one? My house is very hard to heat because I think most of the radiators are just not big enough do they help with that kind of thing?
  The boiler is in the loft(combination) its out of the way there but causes problems if it needs topping up etc as I can't get up there.
  What kind is your new boiler then poppy? a wireless timer sounds good, my timer is in the cupboard under the stairs and not easy to get to.
  My whole system and boiler was fitted in 1989 so it's 17 years old but if it ever goes I will be in a complete mess because I rely on it for water and heating as it's combination and if it goes they both go.
  To be fair over 17 years I really haven't had many problems with it apart from topping up the water and thats it and occasionally the light being blown out in extreme windy weather.
  Mine is a Valiant (german make) and they told me also that this was the rolls royce of boilers too. Only risk was that if it ever broke down it would be more difficult to get the parts for but I've never needed any. So this made me wonder if they might say I couldn't have it replaced as its ran so well over the years.
  How much are boilers anyway? as I am a house owner and I think the max they allow for home owners is Ј2700
• Hi Lady,
  Our boiler was working but we couldn't have hot water and radiators on at same time really as it played up. From the impression I got from the inspector who came round, he said they replaced them if they are 8 years of age anyhow, he didn't even check the boiler, just a quick look. They assessed our insulation in our house, but that was already well insulated as much as we could get it anyhow.
  The boiler is a valliance and we were told that it was the Rolls Royce of boilers. The timer is wireless its in the hallway but we can pick it up off the wall and place it else where if we wish.
  The boiler is around 1,500 mark if that helps. It took best part of a day, from 9 to 3.30 ish and a electrician came at dinner time to wire up, 3 guys in totally. They have to come back just to fit two screws in the outer pipe to comply with manufacturers rules and insert some chemicals into the radiators.
  They also check whether you are ellegable for the grant we get WFT so they looked at the award. You also get some light bulbs too.
  The boiler is a condensing boiler so all you see is steam coming outside from the outer pipe, as water is only heated when its needed, takes 2-3 seconds for hot water, our last boiler took 30 secs or so. You don't need a hot water tank which we didn't have anyhow, as our last boiler was a combi boiler (Worcester)
• Thanx poppy
  I think we have same brand type of boiler I'm glad coz I would like the same brand as its been so good if they do change it. I wouldnt want to go back to the old water tank I love the convenience of contant hot water
  I will just have to wait and see what comes out of my application anyway
• Heres the boiler
  https://www.freewebs.com/p0ppycat/Pictures/boiler.jpg
• Thanx, It looks a really nice one. Mine is absolutely massive they have got much smaller over the 17 years for sure but being in the loft it hasn't bothered me.
  They may not instal the same boilers in all areas though but I hope so as they are a brilliant make. I'm really surprised they are using this brand though as they are so good and probably more expensive. Surprised they didn't go for Britsh made or a cheaper brand to save money.
  Even if I'm not given the grant I'd have to save up but I'd go for the same make again
• I think we've had some people come round before but they only checked our insulation (we only found out about this after some guy knocked on our door offering the service). They just installed some simple insulation on our doors.
  I've been living here since 1991 and the boiler is working fine but we have one of those lame old hot water tank systems. Wouldn't mind getting it replaced.
  The website does say I can still get a grant minus the cost of any previous work. Just wondering if I can at least get my boiler replaced and at best get the whole system changed to one of the more modern combi or condensation systems?
• Today I phoned Warm Front but they say they only replace boilers if they are not working or have been condemned. My boiler is at least 15 years old and although it is functioning the previous posters have said that boilers over 8 years old can be replaced. We did use Warm Front in the past to have some simple insulation work done on the doors but at that time wasn't aware that I could use this for heating systems. Have I been given the wrong information?
• I'm in a similar possition to you as my boiler is 17 years old but it's working though. I didn't want to wait till it completely conks out as I wouldnt have hot water or heating and this warm front thing must take some time to go through all the procedure wouldn't it, too long to be without water and heating. I wonder if it depends on different areas... How long does it take to go through all the application to actually get the work done do they do t on an emergency basis in some cases?
  I also had some draught proofing done some years ago now probably about 15 and they blew some draught proofing stuff in my loft too but thats all
• I just rang them again and they said the same to me. They do not replace boilers unless they are completely broken down and not working or that they have been condemned by the gas board.
  I asked her how long it takes from applying to getting the work done if I did actually wait until the boiler was not working and not mendable. She said it takes once the application has gone through up to 6 months to have the work done. She added that some people do actually go without hot water and heating for the whole 6 months and said they were not an emergency service.
  If it was summer and I didn't need the heating it wouldnt be so bad and I would just have to boil the kettle for pots etc but I have a gas shower that runs off the boiler so I wouldnt be able to shower or anything... that would be a problem I am on a dissability benefit so I cant be carrying hot water around. It is impossible for me to manage with that.
  I don't know why others on this thread have been more successful, it's a mistery
• I recently had some cavity wall & loft insulation done under the warmfront scheme. My combination boiler & central heating system is only about 4yrs old so no problem there. The assessor told me that should my boiler break down within the next 5 yrs I'll qualify for a grant to replace it with a condensing one. I don't think this is likely to happen though as it's a very good boiler & will no doubt give years of satisfactory service, especially as I have a British Gas service contract.
  When I was originally given the leaflet by the community health team outlining the warmfront scheme, it did mention that a boiler would only be replaced if it wasn't in working order or a dangerous condition.