Free gas boiler checks

John_Stiles

I recently found out about the home heat helpline (0800 33 66 99) , where they can arrange for free insulation for pensioners. I never knew about this before, I just assumed that if you want insulation you have to pay for it no matter what your age.

So what I'd like to know is, considering how much it can cost to send out someone to do a basic check on a gas boiler, just to see if it's all working properly, is there any way or any schemes for older people to have a free boiler check?

John_Stiles

...Anyone?

McKneff

Ive never heard of one john, 'fraid its a case of paying for a service.

Ken68

Southern Electric did once offer this service. I applied but never received any comeback.
Then read on here that it is only a check not a service.
Alternative is to buy a carbon monoxide alarm and hunt for the cheapest Heating Engineer.
£66 I paid this year for 30minutes work.

C_Mababejive

Nothing is free...apart from the air that we breathe

macman

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Nothing is free...apart from the air that we breathe

So why does my local garage charge 20p for it (and it always runs out when I've only done 3 tyres)..? :mad:

McKneff

macman wrote: »

So why does my local garage charge 20p for it (and it always runs out when I've only done 3 tyres)..? :mad:

eh, why would you only do 3 tyres.

Next time, get your money's worth and do all 5.

Joyful

Many suppliers will do a free gas safety check if you are over 60 or on qualifying benefits. This is not a service though.

John_Stiles

Joyful wrote: »

Many suppliers will do a free gas safety check if you are over 60 or on qualifying benefits. This is not a service though.

My mum is 65 and gets guarantee pension credit. I'm sure her boiler is fine but she doesn't want to use it until she's sure. So a safety check is all she needs. She's with npower, but technically she's with scottish and southern (she just bought her property) and they're in the process of switching her over to npower. I asked npower if they could come and check that everything is fine and they said yes, but only once the switch is made (which will be in probably a week or so), and they said that I should call scottish and southern and ask if they'll check the boiler, which I did but they won't do it. So now I'm concerned that npower (even after the switch is made) will also say no.

Is there any way that I can get some verification about this? I could call them again but you know what it's like, one person said this and another says that. So how can I be sure?

macman

And inevitably they will find something 'that needs attention' in order to recoup the call out cost.
Just tell her to get it serviced by a local independent GSR RGI.
NB: if she's not using the boiler in this weather, how is she managing to heat her home?

John_Stiles

macman wrote: »

And inevitably they will find something 'that needs attention' in order to recoup the call out cost.
Just tell her to get it serviced by a local independent GSR RGI.
NB: if she's not using the boiler in this weather, how is she managing to heat her home?

She's using heaters that you have to plug in. And hot water bottles.