Can't afford a new boiler! Advice welcome

Shorthouse

I'm new to this site but looking for some advice. Our combi boiler is just over 10 yrs old and the hot water has started playing up and we currently have no hot water! We need a new part but can't afford it. We had a new part back in June which was nearly £400 including fitting etc. ultimately we need a new boiler but we just can not afford it. We have a fair income but are in a debt management plan so can't get any credit and have an 18 month old. Once all bills have come out we are not left with much. We only get child benefit to help us out. I don't know how we can fix this without the funds. Is there any help out there for us? We had to borrow money off family for the last part which we are still paying back so don't feel we can borrow anymore. Sorry about the long post. Any advice would be appreciated...

good_advice

Have you googled for any grants in your area?
Read up about the green deal coming out in January.

I take it it is your own house with mortgage?

spiro

good_advice wrote: »

Have you googled for any grants in your area?
Read up about the green deal coming out in January.

I take it it is your own house with mortgage?

I doubt Green Deal will help as you have to pass a debt check.

Shorthouse

Thank u. Yes we own house with a mortgage. I have looked up green deal and it sounds like a good idea. Do u think we would still be entitled as we are in a DMP so we are not allowed any credit but don't know if this would include that or not. Also sounds good for when January comes but need something for now. Have looked at local grants but they all seem to be for people receiving benefits or pensioners so we wouldn't qualify

Shorthouse

spiro wrote: »

I doubt Green Deal will help as you have to pass a debt check.

This was what I was thinking too!

ollski

What's your boiler and what part do you need?, 400 is a very expensive repair of a major component, this fault could possibly cost a tenth of that to repair.

Shorthouse

It's a powermax boiler. The last part was the heat exchanger and the part we need now is the thermostatic blending valve. Had a quote of £218 + vat (including labour).

undaunted

Have you tried for an Energy Trust grant

http://www.charisgrants.com/

or looked at crisis loans?

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/crisis-loans/

Shorthouse

undaunted wrote: »

Have you tried for an Energy Trust grant

or looked at crisis loans?

Thank you for this. I have just emailed charis grants to see if they can help. I've looked into crisis loan but don't think this will be any good as will have to pay back and we really don't have the funds to pay for another loan and not sure if we would be credit checked for it either.

ollski

I guess you could buy the part for a hundred quid and learn to do it yourself as you don't need to touch any gas or combustion related parts.

good_advice

I still remember when ours packed up and we had to wait in the que a few days for the engineer.
I had a small bath using the hot water from boiling the kettle several times. Then it just took the edge of being cold water.

At lease the washing machine fills up from cold.

If you do not have a coal fire you are going to have to plug in an electric heater.