Advice Repair/Replace Boiler or Wait for Warmfront?

sara34

Any useful advice would be appreciated on my current situation? I have been assessed as eligible for a warmfront grant to replace my current boiler and 2 leaking radiators. I was assessed early september and at the time I could only get hot water if my heating was turned on (SIME combi boiler). The guy said 6-8 months waiting time, I thought this was ok as it was a freebie etc!

Since then, my boiler has started leaking water as well and staying on even thought the thermostat is turned off. I rang warmfront/Eaga again and they said they couldnt give me an idea of when the new system could be fitted, she said she has been told to say it may be 8-9 months which takes it up to june 2011! She also reminded me that the warmfront/eaga project is not meant to be a repairs service.

Of course it could be that current install times are lower than 8-9 months that and I could be due to get one in the next month or so? I live in Bradford, does anyone know what the install time might be? My dilema is, should I just borrow the money to get a new boiler or wait for warmfront?

Any useful guidance would be appreciated, I just cant make my mind up!

poppystar

Hi
I can only speak from my experience but if you can do not wait!

I applied January. Had assessment then waited until last month to get someone to do the survey required.

They would not remove my old boiler - asbestos apparently although NO plumber (have had 8 quotes) has considered this a problem. The list the guy had ran to 8 sheets of A4 so I wonder if any boiler gets removed.

They wouldd fit a new boiler if I removed some shelves and the outside light to free up another wall.

They would not fit a radiator in the kitchen because I did not already have one and they can only do like for like and not 'improvements'
[remove the warm in warmfront!!!]. They would however replace another one that is only five years old because it didn't have fins at the back.

Also could not upgrade to combi from conventional eventhough that seems more appropriate for my property.

Cost to me of getting boiler removed and shelving and fitting a new radiator [which would require the sysytem to be drained again was only just short of what being quoted for a combi. And of course now it is winter and I've got nowhere having waited and quite honestly the plumbers are so busy they don't really want to know!


I wish so much I had not waited for this 'freebie'. It was a huge mistake and a costly one - getting work done over the summer is cheaper, which in my case I could have done.

Hope this helps. happy to give any other info you want.

sara34

Thank you PoppyStar, sounds like you had a farce with them! I have decided to get the work done, going to cost me over £2k cos I need a new boiler and some radiators :-( I know what you mean about plumbers, I rang three and asked for repairs and they couldnt fit me in. I soon found someone who could fit a new boiler though! funny that aint it? lol