Advice about boiler grants needed please

littlewren

I'm not sure exactly where to post this, so I have posted in 2 threads, admin plse feel free to delete whichever is in the wrong section

I am 64, in receipt of guaranteed pension credit as well as state pension and my boiler is on its last legs.

British Gas came out to service it a few months ago just before I started receiving my pension and said it needs a new part, which they can no longer get, called an air pressure switch. On the first click the ignition lights and then it's supposed to click again and then light fully, but the part is disintegrating so it doesn't always, the fan just goes on and nothing happens.

The engineer and myself looked on Ebay and there was a second hand part - so could be the same as mine - selling for £150, when the part only cost about £16 when it was available!

The boiler's not been too bad up until now, considering it's 35 years old, but now the bad weather's here it's decided to start playing up again and now doesn't always fire :eek: I'm not aware until the house starts feeling cold.

I want to try to apply for a boiler grant but know nothing about them. I know there are websites out there as I've looked on Google, but I wondered if anyone knows the correct and best procedure please?

I'm worried sick in case it goes completely and I'm without heat, as I've got nowhere to stay if it does.

As I'm only on a state pension with pension credit, I'm worried about how much I'll have to pay towards one.

Any help that anyone can offer would be great.

Feeling pretty peed off at the moment, I've just had a couple of stressful weeks after Dynorod caused a huge leak in my living room ceiling after they didn't tighten a bath tap valve properly Really don't need this with the boiler on top of that, as I'm still trying to sort that out.

Many thanks in advance.

elsien

Contact the Energy Saving Advice Service
Telephone: 0300 123 1234

They'll tell you if you're eligible for anything, and how to apply if you are.
Do you have a service contract with BG. If not, do you know a reputable independent plumber/gas engineer? They tend to be better than BG as keeping old boilers going rather than scrapping them.

littlewren

elsien wrote: »

Contact the Energy Saving Advice Service
Telephone: 0300 123 1234

They'll tell you if you're eligible for anything, and how to apply if you are.
Do you have a service contract with BG. If not, do you know a reputable independent plumber/gas engineer? They tend to be better than BG as keeping old boilers going rather than scrapping them.

Hi elsien, thank you for your reply and the tel no. Yes I have homecare with British gas, which includes boiler service/cover.

The trouble is the boiler is 35 years old - I should have added that - so parts are no longer available.

Furts

In homes neighbouring me are numerous boilers all around 30 years old, and all still working. They were built to last then. So your worries about yours need to be put in context. If it does not fire first time, then let it fire second time around.

I also wonder if you search out spare parts through trade suppliers that parts are out there. ebay is not the the only source to search! Equally British Gas are not known for their competence and have a vested interest in condemning boilers - they then hope to fit a new one. Years back I got so fed up with BG incompetence and BG doing this to me that I vowed never to have a contract with them again.

If the boiler fails then have a plan B. An oil filled electric radiator and an immersion heater - assuming you are not a combi boiler user.

Alex1983

I’d be surprised if you can get many parts for a 35yr old boiler, if it has a air pressure switch then it’s obviously fan flue and must have PCB’s etc so it far more advanced then your balanced flue 35yr old boiler that just had a thermostat and a Honeywell gas valve.

What’s the make and model of your boiler?

Notmyfault

Our boiler of 40+ years has finally gone to the scrap heap in the sky. Need a gas valve. BG have been telling us for a few years parts were getting obsolete, but we always said, we will contact you when it no longer works. Got condemned last week, new boiler on Monday. BG have always been ok with us... A lot of BG Gas fitters/engineers live round here..:j
Got gas fire in lounge and oil fired radiator upstairs, so ok for heat.
Can't wait to turn hot tap on and get hot water:D

macman

BG will tell you parts are unavailable because the engineers get sales referral commission. Google the part yourself or contact a local independent GSR RGI.
And you will typically pay 40% more for a new install.

littlewren

Furts wrote: »

In homes neighbouring me are numerous boilers all around 30 years old, and all still working. They were built to last then. So your worries about yours need to be put in context. If it does not fire first time, then let it fire second time around.

I also wonder if you search out spare parts through trade suppliers that parts are out there. ebay is not the the only source to search! Equally British Gas are not known for their competence and have a vested interest in condemning boilers - they then hope to fit a new one. Years back I got so fed up with BG incompetence and BG doing this to me that I vowed never to have a contract with them again.

If the boiler fails then have a plan B. An oil filled electric radiator and an immersion heater - assuming you are not a combi boiler user.

No, that's the problem, if the pilot light doesn't come on it won't fire. First click - getting ready, second click pilot light, third click it fires (when it works properly) but what's happening is that it comes to the correct room temperature, goes off for a bit and then won't come back on. The fan comes on and that's it, nothing else happens unless I go and turn off the boiler, then put it on again. That can mean going in to do just that every 10-15 minutes!

It's a large open plan house, so if the boiler fails completely it will be absolutely freezing unless I have an oil filled electric radiator in every room. I don't have wiring for an immersion heater.

I've searched everywhere for the part, nowhere to be found.

littlewren

Alex1983 wrote: »

I’d be surprised if you can get many parts for a 35yr old boiler, if it has a air pressure switch then it’s obviously fan flue and must have PCB’s etc so it far more advanced then your balanced flue 35yr old boiler that just had a thermostat and a Honeywell gas valve.

What’s the make and model of your boiler?

Thanks for your reply Alex, it's a Potterton Netaheat.

littlewren

macman wrote: »

BG will tell you parts are unavailable because the engineers get sales referral commission. Google the part yourself or contact a local independent GSR RGI.
And you will typically pay 40% more for a new install.

I have looked high and low on the internet and through forums, none to be found for my make of boiler

Alex1983

If it’s a early netaheat then they were a death trap, the backs rusted for fun and they had a positive pressure case, when the back rusted they put POC’s back into the room. There also full of asbestos. Time for a new boiler.