The UK Government’s Boiler Scrappage scheme was released under the guise of helping to improve energy efficiency in the home. Although there is no evidence to suggest the scheme is unable to achieve this aim, there are growing concerns that, aside from assisting the environment and lowering energy bills (at least to a certain extent), the scheme will fail to attract interest from the majority of financially ‘poor’ households.
In fact, according to one of Britain’s best known plumbers, Charlie Mullins of Pimlico Plumbers, the Boiler Scrappage scheme is likely to prove more costly over time, which is especially critical for the country’s less wealthy customers.
Approximately 125,000 were thought to be able to take part in the Boiler Scrappage scheme, which offers customers a cash incentive of £400 for replacing their older, less efficient central heating boilers (it must be G-rated – i.e. has a pilot light) with more modern and energy efficient varieties (specifically, the condensing boiler). Unfortunately, replacing conventional boiler systems with condensing boilers can sometimes prove problematic in so much as they often need to be located in a different area of the home due to regulation changes and or physical differences in plumbing requirements. This process can prove to be a logistical nightmare in many cases and usually involves greater installation costs. As such, the £400 voucher to replace an old but functional boiler at a cost ranging between £1,000 and £2,500 already constitutes a poor financial incentive to make the change.
Another concern raised by the scheme, which has so far attracted interest from 16,000 or so households in the country, is the newer, more energy efficient condensing boilers are not as reliable as the outmoded conventional models. According to Charlie Mullins, older boilers would typically last up to 15 years or longer before requiring repair or replacement. In the case of new condensing boilers, however, Mullins argues his plumbers often find themselves replacing newer models after just 3 to 6 years. As reported in the Guardian, Mullins argued that the scheme could prove to be “financial madness” for many homeowners.
Some thirty odd years ago I drove down to our local plumbing shop bought a boiler popped it into the back of my Cortina took it home and fitted my own central heating. I turned it on and left it on for thirty odd years, in that time one thermocouple burnt through and I cleaned it twice.
It has a cast iron heat exchanger and a pilot light and it has lasted well.
There are plenty of spares available for it and I expect it will go on for years to come.
Why would anyone wish to replace a solid reliable unit such as that?
With a modern complicated condensing boiler?
They tell us that condensing boilers are more efficient, but that only applies up to the moment they reach operating temperature and after that they are much the same as the old ones (allowing for the pilot light)
The condensing boilers are all self certified by the manufacturers and no one knows for sure how efficient they are, what is needed is an independent group of engineers to compare performance, much like Which used to do with electric fires years ago.
Until then I think the suggested money saving is imaginary and cannot be substantiated.
I expect many feel as I do, and will ignore the offer of overpriced unreliable equipment.
would it be poss for someone to contact with ref to scrappage scheme running.i would need info if my boiler is condamed ,where do i stand with no heating or hotwater. does the scrappage scheme still apply??