Eco4 grants - any downsides?

ThisIsWeird

Hi.

Asking for an elderly friend who was cold-called about this, and he's wondering if it's a scam or legit. My initial Googling suggests the latter?

He has a Baxi back-boiler in his fireplace, so I'm guessing that will not be 'condensing', so he should qualify - depending on income, I suppose? Should I suggest he pursues it?

Thanks.

Swipe

He can check the ECO4 criteria to see if he's eligible but a lot of these phone calls lie and tell you that you will be eligible regardless. They must get commission for each survey visit they generate.

ThisIsWeird

Thanks. I'll see if I can get the criteria, and send it to him. 

But, in essence, it's 'legit'?

Scot_39

Whilst Eco4 grants may be legit.

Companies cold calling may not be.  And might use aggressive sales tactics, even if not entitled to grants to make vulnerable part with cash.

The obvious link being the green grants and the cold calling or door knocking sales forces pushing them for cavity wall etc in past.  Only to disappear when problems emerge.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: He has a Baxi back-boiler in his fireplace, so I'm guessing that will not be 'condensing', so he should qualify - depending on income, I suppose? Should I suggest he pursues it?

I'd suggest he contacts his energy supplier rather than using a cold-calling outfit. Alternatively, contact the council's Warm Home team.

Unless the boiler is a Baxi BBU HE (manufactured 2009 to 2015), it will be non-condensing.It will also have a pilot light consuming ~2,000KWh of gas each year. Assuming a Bermuda 45, it will be ~65% efficient, so replacing with a modern condensing boiler will provide significant savings - Quite likely, some of the radiators could do with being replaced at the same time.

That said, installing a replacement condensing boiler can be very disruptive. Finding a usable external wall is half the battle, then there is quite a bit of new pipework needed.

ThisIsWeird

Thanks all.

anon_ymous

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi.

Asking for an elderly friend who was cold-called about this, and he's wondering if it's a scam or legit. My initial Googling suggests the latter?

He has a Baxi back-boiler in his fireplace, so I'm guessing that will not be 'condensing', so he should qualify - depending on income, I suppose? Should I suggest he pursues it?

Thanks.

If anyone offers you spray foam, RICS advice is still such that I wouldn't get spray foam in even if it's open cell 

Be aware. One of their do's is to contact your mortgage provider to remortgage. That may not be an issue for an elderly person but it is an issue if someone wants to sell that house in the future because buyers may not necessarily be able to get a mortgage even with open cell spray foam.

Or they may be able to, but only with a limited amount of companies instead of the entire market 

ThisIsWeird

Thanks. Yes, I'm aware of the 'foam' issue.

I should have been clear - this would be concerning a new boiler only.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

here's what OFGEM says.

ThisIsWeird

Good site, FmacD - thank you.

JayR09

Little late to the thread but definitely not a scam. I work with an installer company that work under the scheme, if you have any questions feel free to ask and if im not sure on the answer I can ask their Retrofit Assessor.