If your gas boiler breaks down, then you may find yourself in a very difficult situation – they can cost hundreds of pounds to replace! If you’re looking for a gas boiler replacement, but you don’t think you can afford one, then don’t panic. There are a few schemes out there that could help to offset the cost, or even get you one for free.
In some cases, you might be able to get government help for gas boiler replacement. Under the Energy Companies Obligation scheme, if you have an old boiler that is not energy efficient, and you are classed as being on a low income, then you can get that boiler replaced free of charge. The idea behind this scheme is to help people who cannot afford to upgrade their boilers to ‘go green’ and reduce their carbon footprint. In the long run it can even help them because it will cut their energy bills so they will be better off than they would have been if they were stuck with a (still working) old and inefficient boiler.
If your boiler was too new for that scheme or if you are not qualified for it because of your income, you still might be able to get help in other ways. For example, if you have a relatively large home (three bedrooms or more), then you could join Flow Energy, and get their boiler installed as a part of a feed-in tarrif.
The Flow boiler is a boiler that uses waste gasses to power a small turbine, which generates energy – so your heating efforts generate electricity. Flow offsets the energy that the boiler generates against your bill for the boiler, so you don’t have to pay anything up-front for the boiler. You are locked in to a long contract with Flow if you choose that option, but it could be a good bet if you aren’t planning on moving any time soon and you need a new boiler right now.
There are other options such as boiler rentals that could be good for you if you are not looking for such a long contract but can’t afford £600+ for boiler right now, and there are some low interest loans that are offered for people who are employed and who are struggling to find money for household essentials such as replacing boilers.
Don’t forget, as well, that there’s a chance that your boiler’s repair policy or insurance might be able to help you. Dig out all your paperwork, and look it over to see whether you’ve overlooked something. A lot of people take out small policies for that sort of thing, and then forget about them, so you could be throwing away a chance to get a repair cheaply, or a like for like replacement. There are lots of options out there for homeowners, so don’t panic if your boiler breaks down. You can get a replacement without breaking the bank.