Its cold!

[Lindylou]

We are two pensioners. Can't get credit from Banks (won't lend to pensioners....) and our central heating boiler has just died. Had a visit from a SWALEC representative, (a salesman really) who has quoted us a replacement boiler plus a systems upgrade (because our old system was, well, old) of over £3,000. We're cold!! Only have a fan heater at the moment, and a kettle, to boil water. Are there any grants available for new/replacement boilers? We don't have the cash to pay for one. Any ideas please? Fed up with boiling kettles so we can have a wash. And my feet (etc!) are/is cold. Wish I had an open/coal fire, but we don't have a chimney either.

[alavahalf]

This may help ... http://www.warmfront.co.uk/

[boxtops]

Don't pay that much - get other quotes - our new condensing boiler cost £1500 fitted.

[237SJ]

Are you in receipt of Pension Credits? If so, you could qualify for a warm front grant as someone has previously mentioned.

[what..the?]

maybe citizens advice might be able to point you in the right direction

[anneasquith]

i appreciate the position you are in. a few years ago in winter, i had just come out of hospital following a fairly long illness. i at the time had no option but to go with scottish gas for a new boiler, cost £3OOO , i wish i had shopped around but just felt too ill to do so. and the gas, were the ones who could fit the boiler quickest. try age concern. good luck

[Lindylou]

Thanks everyone for the information! I've sent an email to Warm Front today asking for their advice.

[anneasquith]

hi lindy, was hoping you got some good news. i hope the weather is not too cold where you are today.

[saxy_jag]

My mum's about to get a new boiler. She's getting a grant towards the cost. Her first port of call, as advised by her carer, was Age Concern, who can offer totally unbiased advice on most matters of this kind. They should be able to tell you how to get the ball rolling.

[Andyvon]

We had a new gas heating system fitted last year Lindy. We had the old back boiler replaced with a Vaillant condensing boiler. The new system does away with the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard and the water tanks in the loft. Whenever we need hot water now it is heated by the boiler as soon as we turn the hot tap on. There's no need for a tank of water to be kept hot, you just heat the water you use as and when you use it. Our shower is electric so we only use hot water for the kitchen sink.

My wife and I have made no effort to reduce the amount of hot water or gas we use. Despite that, our gas consumption has reduced to just one fifth (20%) of what we used at the same time of year with the old heating system. My wife also puts the heating on whenever she wants (I don't usually think it's cold) but even so, our gas bill paid by D/D is now just £14 a month - £3.50 a week.

If you are going to get a new boiler Lindy, make sure it's a condensing one as it will save you a lot of money. I'm sure there must be various grants for pensioners. What about contacting your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or maybe the local council or benefits.

[Lindylou]

Many many thanks to you all. Have had quotes in the region of £3,500/£3,800 from both SWALEC / British Gas, etc. Which we could never afford. Managed, (finally) to get through to the Warmfront people. There's a 6-8 month waiting list. But at least they've accepted our application. I shall be asking for hot water bottles/fan heaters for Xmas! Every day I fill a couple of vacuum flasks to take up to the bathroom and I think its the hot water I miss the most. My poor kettle..! xx

[TheOtherHalf]

My in laws had theirs done by warmfront for free. Hope you have some luck. You can come to my house when you need a bath if you want.
Those little halogen heaters are great. I have one next to our computer in the bedroom as it gets cold in there. They reckon they only cost 1p an hour to run

[Lindylou]

Thank you all! Snow forecast soon.... can't wait.... The Assessor is due to arrive within the next 2 - 3 weeks. Should be warm soon. (By Xmas 2011. Not complaining though. I remember, as a child, scraping the frost from INSIDE the windows so we could see what the weather was like outside. We used to make toast for tea via the toasting fork and the open fire. With lots and lots of butter. (No mention of it being bad for you then). I do miss that..

[hermione_boo]

warmfront. My husband and I both lost our jobs this year, so returned back to uni. We have small children and our heating went down not long after the above. Warm front were amazing, we have a brand new boiler, a replaced radiator and the house is warm at last. I cannot recommend them enough. My elderly neighbour is getting hers done in a few weeks after we recommended she did. It does take a while as they send an assessor round and book you in etc, but its worth it.
In the mean time, make sure you stay as warm as you can, you can contact your energy company who can help with discounts for OAPs and hardship . good luck

[anneasquith]

lindylou. was watching for your update, are you still without heating i left a help line www. age uk.

[Lindylou]

Assessor has come and assessed. And gone again. We have to wait now for an engineer to arrive. Its snowing quite heavily as I type. Keeping warm as best we can. Hot water bottles (quite comforting to cuddle) whilst watching telly. Also refilling to go to bed. Scarves. Woollen gloves. (Not miser mittens though, I think they would be useful). All in all we are managing. Though I do miss hot water from the tap. Its a total pain to keep boiling the kettle. I dread our next lecci bill. Although - to be fair - at least we're saving on gas!

[Kathyan]

Could you not afford a calor heater? It would at least keep you warm in one room!

[Dee Sa]

we are pensioners Warm Front put us in storage heaters and there was enough left on the grant for them to instal an immersion heater in the loft, took a while for them to get round to doing it, but we are very grateful to the scheme.

[Lindylou]

Have just heard - our boiler is due to be fixed next Thursday, 24th February 2011. Its taken a while and its been everso cold, can't remember getting hot water out of the tap, but, nevermind. Thanks to everyone, our new boiler is due to be sorted!!!

[Lindylou]

An update -- new boiler fitted end of February 2011. Today the system was 'flushed' and we're now good to go! Hot water and heating. Many, many thanks to all who helped with advice. Its been a l-o-n-g, cold winter but I've just been able to have a very hot bath and am now very wrinkled as I soaked for quite a while. We didn't have to pay a penny (for which I am eternally grateful). Thank you to Warm Front and the wonderful scheme which has helped us so very much.