New Green Homes Grant to give up to £5,000 in vouchers for insulation and double-glazing

Zanderman

A1ps said:

.....Can anyone please offer me some advice? As it's a new build (albeit, built by an independent) I doubt it could be the wall insulation. If it is, I'm in trouble! I've check the double glazing and the seals and they all seem to be ok. There are no drafts anywhere to be found. I even shut the vents on the windows, but that made no difference at all. 
Totally baffled. Maybe the place is haunted!!! In which case, i don't need insulation but an exorcist........

From your description it sounds like a problem with the radiators in those rooms as suggested by tek-monkey above.  And/or with the thermostat being affected by the UFH downstairs.  Maybe fiddling with the balancing of the radiators throughout upstairs would help -  I assume, if it's recent build, that they all have stats on them?

And, getting back to the thread subject, I really doubt there's a problem with your wall insulation on a 2003 build so I doubt the Green Homes Grant Scheme can help. The only obvious option, under the GHG, would be loft insulation.  Which may help solve the problem in your cold rooms upstairs.  But a 2003 build may already have 270mm insulation (as that standard came in about then) in which case I don't think you'll get any more.  

mickvc

Help Please? Can you recommend a Double Glazing firm in Greater Manchester that are accepted by the Green Homes Grant Scheme? (Trustmark registered and PAS approved status - for installing Double Glazing). I've tried every firm listed on the Trustmark portal. Either they're not listed for installing double glazing, won't travel, or have so much work already they can't fit windows for me.

delmonta

I'll be very angry if they scrap it. I've been through such stress and wasted days of my time, and applied in the first few seconds with a valid quote, they've F^%ed me around in every possible way, and made it impossible. I wish there was a way to take legal action!

Why is our government so useless on every level. Incompetent idiots

Afourteen

A1ps said:

I've just been reading up on the absolute ridiculousness of this entire scheme and those who run it. Is it surprising? No. Was it expected? Yes. What am I going to do about it? Try and get my insulation done before it's too late! And this is where I need your help please guys. 

I have the oddest of things in my house. It's a timber frame build, built in 2003, It has 4 bedrooms. But 2 of the rooms just do not seem to heat up in winter. If one of those rooms heats up, the other is cold. If that other heats up, the first one is cold! The rest of the rooms and house are fine though! 

I have underfloor heating on the ground floor, which is fine. It;s just on the first floor and those 2 bedrooms where the issue is. 

In order to heat of the cold rooms, I need to set my thermostat to 3 - 4 degrees higher. So, if I want the cold rooms to each 21 degrees, I set the stat in the hallway to 24 degrees. Ouch, that hurts the gas bill. 

Can anyone please offer me some advice? As it's a new build (albeit, built by an independent) I doubt it could be the wall insulation. If it is, I'm in trouble! I've check the double glazing and the seals and they all seem to be ok. There are no drafts anywhere to be found. I even shut the vents on the windows, but that made no difference at all. 
Totally baffled. Maybe the place is haunted!!! In which case, i don't need insulation but an exorcist........

You need to get the plumber in - one who understands 'wet' UFH to balance the system. do you know if you do have 'balancing' valves on the feed into the UFH?
Your description is indicative that the UFH heating controls are set to allow all the hot heating water through the floor and so there is no or little flow to the upstairs radiators. 

Jossmer

Well I have written to my MP about this scheme and all the hassle. I applied on day 1 of the scheme opening. Despite jumping through the many hoops GHG throw at you, I have persevered. My last phone call to GHG. I asked when will I get my voucher. They said, and confirmed in an email, that they had everything they needed. Also that my application is now with the auditors ?

!!!!!!. Sounds like yet an other hurdle to me.  Still awaiting a reply from my letter to my MP on this.

Cb_man1

Just a quick reminder of the GHG webchat link.
https://green-homes-grant.service.gov.uk/contact

sav0

Payments to installers must have been speeded up as I redeemed the voucher on Saturday for the work done and have just received confirmation the install has been paid so just 3 working days 

Baxter100

All government energy efficiency schemes end in disaster. They should probably stop bothering.

tek-monkey

Baxter100 said:

All government energy efficiency schemes end in disaster. They should probably stop bothering.

Define disaster?  I bet the company running it still get paid, so to them it's a success!

delmonta

I got my vouchers! I applied in the first few minutes, called so many times, complained, sent numerous quotes and IDs as they asked for extra stuff. Then my installer pulled out, had to find another one a week or so ago. 

I sent a very strongly worded email with my new quote to GHG, saying my local MP will get involved and I am looking into taking legal action. I dont know if this had anything to do with it, but got my vouchers today

1 for EWI and 1 for IWI. 

What a huge relief. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get either. Good luck to everyone waiting, what a nightmare