Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve collected together some frequently asked questions from our customers to help you with your home heating and insulation questions. Anything that isn’t covered, please give us a call and we’ld be happy to chat with you.
Storage heaters do use a lot of electricity, sometimes as much as 3kW. But they are designed to stop drawing on it when they reach the desired temperature and because the electricity they use is on the lower night time tariff, it is cheaper and an efficient heater will make it go further.
Yes, they can, although it depends on the appliance you buy. The cheapest storage heaters can be inefficient, wasting energy and making your rooms too warm. However, if you're prepared to spend a bit extra on a better model you'll save money over time because they are more energy efficient.
The price of a storage heater starts from about £150 but top of the range models will cost several hundred pounds. Running costs are kept to a minimum by using the Economy 7 and Economy 10 night-time tariffs so on this rate an average 2kW storage heater will cost about 13p per hour.
If you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you could qualify for a grant to pay for or subsidise the cost of replacing a broken or inefficient boiler, provided you meet the other requirements. You must be a homeowner with annual household income below £20,000 and your faulty boiler must be at least six years old.
Working tax credits and child tax credits are available to UK citizens on low incomes. If you receive either of these benefits, you could qualify for a grant to replace your broken boiler, provided that your household income is below £20,000, the boiler is at least six years old and you own your home.
Boiler grants are specifically targeted at helping people on benefits because, by definition, their income is low. Out of the 28 state benefits currently in operation, if you receive one of the 16 which are most commonly claimed, like tax credits, PIP, JSA and Carer's Allowance, you may qualify for a grant.
If you're a pensioner you are not automatically entitled to a boiler grant but you could be eligible if you meet certain conditions. You need to be a homeowner and in receipt of one of the prescribed state benefits, most commonly Pension Guarantee Credit, although many other benefits will also qualify you.
Any homeowner with a faulty or broken boiler that is at least 6 years old could qualify, depending on their financial situation. Their household income must be below £20,000 and they must be receiving one or more common state benefits, including but not limited to PIP, JSA, working tax credit and Pension Credit Guarantee.
Unfortunately, the Government's Green Home Grant plan has been scrapped, but if you submitted your application before the 31st of March 2021, it will still be considered, and you may still receive a voucher. If you already have a voucher, you can still redeem it.
A Worcester Bosch boiler should last between 10-15 years, depending on how often it is serviced and how it is used. The best way to decide if you need a new boiler is whether your current one seems to take longer to heat your home or requires regular repair.
Worcester Bosch boilers come in many different types and sizes ranging from £700 to £2500 for a single unit. This does not include labour or extra materials used in fitting. An average home combi boiler should cost around £1,800, fitted with guarantees and including a thermostat.
If you receive certain benefits, then yes, you may be able to get free cavity wall and loft insulation. It's not specifically a grant. Instead, the Government is requiring energy companies to supply it to you for free under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme which is designed to tackle climate change and fuel poverty.
You can get free loft insulation if you are receiving certain benefits, under a Government scheme called the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which is designed to ensure energy companies help out those people in the lowest income homes. It's worth applying for, particularly as fuel bills are expected to rise substantially.
There are grants available for people receiving certain benefits, even if they're in a privately rented home. It's part of the Government's ECO Scheme and covers cavity wall insulation if your home has suitable uninsulated walls, loft insulation if you have none already; and solid wall insulation which attaches to the outside of your home.
“My energy bills were so high until I found out about a boiler grant. The local installation company made the process quick and easy and I could not be happier with my new boiler. I’ve saved a significant amount!”
“The whole process took just a few weeks. After applying, a local company contacted me within a few minutes to check my details and book my survey. In less than a fortnight my new boiler was installed.”
“The engineers that fitted the new boiler were friendly and professional. Our heating system is now running efficiently and has already provided us with savings.”
“We were unable to fund purchasing a new boiler ourselves, so we are so grateful to Next Energy. Our bills are now much more affordable – I would highly recommend checking if you are eligible for this scheme.”
