Pre Budget: Boiler scrappage scheme planned

Premier_2

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

...Based on this the cheapest price for gas on DD seems to be £617 for prepay it is £792 (Area 18 / energy helpline)....

Are you sure the Ofgem suggestion of 20,500kWh for gas does not include cooking too? Because their suggestion of just 3300kwH for electricity seems somewhat low if the electric does include cooking.

Anyway, the Ebico would charge just £753.38 for 20,500kWh of gas on a PPM (the same as any other form of payment). Not suggesting they are the cheapest, just a figure I know well.

Edit:
Actually just checked and Ebico are the cheapest, but EDF, Eon and SSE all are cheaper than £792.
Of the 12 offerings given, nPower at £797 in 9th place is the closest to £800
(we're not allowed to mention who brings up the rear at £852 )

numbersix06

It all depends on your definition of the word EFFICENT,the Combi boilers are far from EFFICENT.A gas engineer was telling me that they have a life span of 10 years and they are not problem free years.My sister's combi went after 6 years,was going to be too expensive to repair and a friend had theirs 2 years!!!!!
They may use less emissions but they need to if they are being repaired so often and replaced.
I have had my boiler over 20 years and theres no way i'm getting a combi.Don't touch them with a barge pole.If you are having large gas bills because of your boiler then work out the figures and see if an efficent boiler is the answer.But don't get a Combi unless you want loads of trouble!!

Rob71

numbersix06: no-one is suggesting anyone goes for a Combi boiler - if you have a regular boiler right now (with a hot water tank) then that can be replaced with another regular boiler - it's just that it's now law we all have Condensing boilers.

I used about 25000kWh (~£660) for the year up until my last bill, and I've got a 65%/G rated boiler - I could save about 25% by updating... but based on the fact it costs about 2.5K to upgrade, it's going to take 15years to pay for itself! :eek:

A_fiend_for_life

Premier wrote: »

Are you sure the Ofgem suggestion of 20,500kWh for gas does not include cooking too? Because their suggestion of just 3300kwH for electricity seems somewhat low if the electric does include cooking.

Afaik this is national average and includes all households ie all electric and dual fuel. Not sure if it includes other forms of gas. The only average figure I've seen for all electric is 6,600 kWh per annum which seems wildly optimistic imho. Appreciate many would be high rise flats.

Premier wrote: »

Anyway, the Ebico would charge just £753.38 for 20,500kWh of gas on a PPM (the same as any other form of payment). Not suggesting they are the cheapest, just a figure I know well.

Edit:
Actually just checked and Ebico are the cheapest, but EDF, Eon and SSE all are cheaper than £792.
Of the 12 offerings given, nPower at £797 in 9th place is the closest to £800
(we're not allowed to mention who brings up the rear at £852 )

Correction on my previous post - energy helpline is less than helpful with prepay. I'd expect 'weekly payment' to mean prepay yet only SP standard is displayed for area 18 on energy helpline. Ebico, as you say, actually comes in at £753 for gas. Ebico are also cheaper for dual fuel - £1297 vs £1206. Certainly doesn't make it easy for prepay customers to compare. There might be others.

Cardew

numbersix06 wrote: »

It all depends on your definition of the word EFFICENT,the Combi boilers are far from EFFICENT.A gas engineer was telling me that they have a life span of 10 years and they are not problem free years.My sister's combi went after 6 years,was going to be too expensive to repair and a friend had theirs 2 years!!!!!
They may use less emissions but they need to if they are being repaired so often and replaced.
I have had my boiler over 20 years and theres no way i'm getting a combi.Don't touch them with a barge pole.If you are having large gas bills because of your boiler then work out the figures and see if an efficent boiler is the answer.But don't get a Combi unless you want loads of trouble!!

Welcome to the forum.

This subject of keeping old boilers going as long as possible has been discussed many times, and many of us would agree 100% with your sentiments.

However, sadly, I don't think it is just a case of avoiding combis. I believe the problem is more that all boilers now are condensing(less rare exceptions) and that is the root cause of the inherent unreliability of modern boilers.

There is plenty of evidence that condensing boilers being stuffed full of electronics, simply do not last like the uncomplicated old boilers - mine is over 21 years old.

When condensing boilers do go wrong it is normally a case of a printed circuit board(pcb) requiring changing at the cost of £hundreds a time. No repairs are possible.

If you do take out a service contract at £200pa or so with, say, BG, after a few years they will find excuses not to cover the boiler,(parts are unavailable Sir!!) and many heat exchangers are not covered after the manufacturer's guarantee runs out; and that is 5 years at the outside!!

Canucklehead

Cardew wrote: »

many heat exchangers are not covered after the manufacturer's guarantee runs out; and that is 5 years at the outside!!

Good afternoon: Viessmann offer a 5 year parts and labour warranty if the appliance is installed by a Viessmann trained RGI...and 10 years on the heat exchanger.
A proper chemical flush when the boiler is installed and following manufacturer's specifications goes a long way in prolonging the life of a boiler.

Independent RGIs in the industry are also curious about how the government's latest kick at the energy efficiency 'can' will play out....hoping for details of eligibility before April 2010...4.5 million boilers at Sedbuk Band G and worse....the scheme is a drop in the bucket tbh.

HTH

Canucklehead

hethmar

Martin was talking about this on the radio on Friday I think and he said that some of the gas suppliers are planning to equal the "grant" being offered by the government. So we may actually be seeing £800 off the cost. Mind you, I am expecting an imminent increase in the cost of boilers ...................

Our boiler is nearly 18 years old, but, touch wood has never broken down.

Canucklehead

hethmar wrote: »

Martin was talking about this on the radio on Friday I think and he said that some of the gas suppliers are planning to equal the "grant" being offered by the government. So we may actually be seeing £800 off the cost. Mind you, I am expecting an imminent increase in the cost of boilers ...................

Our boiler is nearly 18 years old, but, touch wood has never broken down.

Hi...I listened as well...no doubt the 'cost' of the boiler in the quotes from the big boys will be inflated even more before a 'discount' is given. We expect to pay more at the merchants for our boilers next year similar to what happened with the prices of cars this year.

Canucklehead

hethmar

When we first bought this house, we had British Gas in to quote on full central heating. 2 people turned up, both booted and suited and wandered about and discussed which "package" would be most suitable. They seem just to have "packages" not prices as per a survey. They came out over 50% more than the most expensive local small installer.

Rikki

CERT G-Rated Boilers
From 10 February 2009 the early replacement of operational G-rated boilers will be an eligible measure under the CERT programme.

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CERT G-rate boilers note - PDF, 20KB

CERT G-rated boilers savings - Excel, 33KB

CERT SEDBUK G-rated boilers list - Excel, 156KB