Warm Front Grant saved me a fortune!

Lady_K

Do you think I should just ring the ega then I'm in Nottingham but my council is Ashfield

Poppycat

Yes ring them no harm in asking they can be very busy I waited once for an hour on phone.

Lady_K

I contacted eaga today and at first they said I wasn't entitled because incapacity is not classed as a disability but I rang back again as I remembered reading somewhere on the net that if you have been on it for over a year you qualify. They confirmed this is correct and I am entitled to apply

They told me an inspector would be in touch with me in the next 4 weeks. They asked if I have central heating and if it was working and I said yes I have central heating butit is not working because it isn't. The water is still working but I don't know how long for but if that goes it will be a complete dissaster and I will definitely have to borrow the money to get it fixed somehow because the nature of my condition I have to have hot water.

How long do you think it will be from applying today to actually getting things fixed? And what is the procedure?

Poppycat

I applied late last October and got our new condensing boiler in March thsi year.

I was never told that IB made any difference to whether you allegable or not, mealy your assessed in income or need.

To expediate things a little as we couldnt have baths I asked them if they could class ours as a emergnecy as my daughter and I have outstanding health problems particularly her she cant walk far and has CMT which make her prone to the cold. They wouldnt budge nore would letters from our GP or MP, they told me that they dont take into account any disbaikity or outstanding health problems, they even stressed "we are not an emergency agency"

I did have within a week someone could and check our incomes, see what insulation we had and see our boiler (actually he just asked what was wrong). We then waiting unti Feb when someone came to check our boiler again he didnt actually chekc it asked us what the problem was and how old it was. I am sure he said they replace boilers if they are 10 years old anyhow.

In the mean time between Oct and March we were also sent some energsy saving light bulbs.

We previously had our loft insulated, but they didnt do a very good job, the insulation didnt go all the way out to the edges and we then one Winter had major problems with water seeping from the roof (it wasnt leaking) causing condenation and thick spours of mold, it was so bad we had to have enviromental health round.

I then went up in the loft to check I noticed they laid insulation over boxes I had up there including christmas tree rather than move them out of the way before laying the insulation. I got more insulation in the areas they hadnt laid the insulation and also bought some Kingspan to put on the rafters sow e have plenty of insulation and the problem of condenstation hasnt happened since, so myself is if they do your loft check

Lady_K

Well I will have to be prepared for a long wait then it seems... goodness I hope its not going to be too bad a winter. I have an electric fire in the living room and the gas fire in the back room isnt safe as my grandaughter pulled it away from the wall and broke the seal so it would prob give off carbon monoxide. I dont use the back room anyway.

So basically they will come round to check out whats wrong and want to see proof of my income as in benefit evidenence and bank statements? will they want to know outgoings? did they give you an appointment time or just turn up?

Poppycat

They didnt look at my outgoings only what income I had coming in. In our case they rang up and asked if they could come and see it the first time around, I think he was in the area as he was quick to come. The 2nd time it was an appointment.

Its best to get these thing done quickely before the Winter troubles begin, when everyone turns there boiler only and find out if it works.

The boiler we got was what they claim the Rolls Royce of boilers a Vallance condensing boiler.

Lady_K

I was just wondering do condensing boilers have to have a hot water tank? because I don't have one as I have a combination boiler... I wouldnt know where to put one now. Plus I have a gas power shower which works off the combination boiler too. I think warmfront only instal condensing boilers so not sure if they did say I needed a new boiler how how that would be effected.

Poppycat

Hi Lady-K no they dont have a hot water tank it takes me around 5 secs to have hot water via tap a lot quicker than our old combi boiler did with no hot water tak there either. Theres steam that comes out of the boiler which is sent outside, there meant to be very efficent. I will compare next Winters heating with last years when it comes.

I am not sure about gas power showers it might be best to ask in diy forum as there some plumber that reside there and kindly offer help

As far as I am ware due to the change in law only condensing boilers can now be fitted.

Rebob

Condensing boilers come in two types, the one with a hot water tank and another that is a combi boiler. The condensing name means the boiler reuses its own heat ie condensation and so it can use less than half the amount of gas than the older style of boiler.

Lady K - I would ring them back up, ask for the name of the person so you can ring the same one back, and tell them about the fire in the back room being unsafe. Part of the grant can be used to repair existing faults so this might be done quicker. Worth a try anyway.

We too are expecting it to take up to 6 months but if we borrowed the money it would take longer than that to pay it off! Until very recently we have just been above the level of income for help and even though we have had a big drop in income we have been no worse off this year.

Lady_K

They rang me today just to check details and said a man will contact me in about 4-5 weeks to come and check things and depending on what he says I suppose then I'll have to wait the usual 6 or 7 months

I did mention the gas fire and the undersized radiators but she said that they dont repair things like the gas fire or upgrade anything like radiators its mainly the draught proofing loft insulation and heating they do. As long as I can hopefully get the heating working that should be ok though. I'm just hoping that if the water is still working then but the heating isnt they may still consider a replacement boiler seeing as its so old

I maybe should start asking round if anyone has any portable heaters that they maybe could lend me until things are fixed