What is the purpose of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme?

The UK has one of the most ambitious CO₂ emission reduction targets in the world. The installation of an efficient heating system is an effective way of reducing household energy bills and CO₂ emissions, as domestic heating accounts for 14 per cent of the UK’s CO₂ emissions.

There are currently around three and a half million homes in England with the very least efficient type of boiler (G-rated or worse).

To address this the Government is offering up to 125,000 households £400 towards the cost of upgrading their boiler (if G-rated or equivalent or worse) to a high efficiency A-rated one or a renewable heating technology. This will help to save in the region of 140,000t CO₂ per year – equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

What are the benefits in upgrading your boiler?

New boilers have rated efficiencies of 90 per cent or more meaning that they use less fuel, resulting in lower CO₂ emissions and running costs. Renewable heat technologies do not use fossil fuels, reducing CO₂ emissions still further. For example, this means by upgrading your G-rated boiler to an A-rated one, your household heating bill should drop by about a quarter – a saving, on average, of around £235 a year.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

The scheme is open to 125,000 householders in England living in an owned or privately rented home. Please note:

- If you are a householder (including tenants) under 60 you can only apply for the scheme if the boiler you are scrapping is in working order and is the main boiler used to heat the home.

- If you are a householder (including tenants) and 60 or over you can apply for the scheme regardless of whether the boiler you are scrapping is in working order. However, it still needs to be the main boiler used to heat the home.

Only householders and landlords who privately own and rent dwellings are eligible to apply for a voucher. Boiler installers and manufacturers, local authority registered social landlords, and housing associations are not eligible to apply.

If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord and are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended) under the Warm Front Scheme. See below for more details, or alternatively visit: www.warmfront.co.uk. Please note you cannot receive funding under both Warm Front and the Boiler Scrappage Scheme.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous. When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning.  All your gas appliances should be checked and serviced regularly.  Give Action Services a call and ask our engineers about a carbon monoxide detector.  It could save your life.

From the 1st April 2009 CORGI is being taken over by the Gas Safe Register as the UK’s official gas safety body.

From this date you should only allow boiler engineers to work on your heating systems if they have an official Gas Safe Register membership card which are held by all Action Services engineers.

When checking your Action Services engineers card look for the yellow Gas Safe Register triangle and not the orange CORGI registration badge.  This shows we are fully qualified to carry out any heating and boiler repairs