Extended Boiler Allowance Scheme Welcomed.
Local installer urges homeowners to avail of extended Boiler Allowance Scheme.
Boiler installer Robert Bunting of Robert Bunting Heating & Plumbing, based in Ballygowan, is encouraging homeowners to upgrade their home heating system this year and check to see if they are eligible for the popular government funded Boiler Replacement Allowance, which has been extended into 2018.
What is the Boiler Replacement Allowance?
The Boiler Replacement Allowance is a government funded scheme to help eligible homeowners to help with the cost of replacing boilers, which are 15 years or older, with new boilers. Under the scheme, home owners may receive a grant of up to £1,000 towards the cost of replacing old and inefficient boilers with an energy efficient condensing boiler.
How many households have availed of the scheme to date?
Since its introduction in 2012, the scheme has assisted around 30,000 homeowners upgrade their central heating boilers. I am delighted to see the government extend this scheme into 2018 so that even more householders can benefit from improved energy efficiency in the home.
Is the Boiler Replacement Allowance available to everyone?
The major benefit of this scheme is that it is very broad in its eligibility criteria, making it available to a large number of householders in Northern Ireland. I would encourage everyone with a boiler more than 15 years old to check avail of the scheme and check their their eligibility via:
Why is it important to replace boilers that are over 15 years old?
If your boiler is 15 years old or more it is very likely to be operating inefficiently… often only working to around 60% efficiency. Not only will it be costing you more money to run, but you run an increased risk of boiler breakdown. This often happens at the most inconvenient of times and between call-out and repair charges can be very expensive. It is at this stage I would really recommend that homeowners replace their boiler instead of spending money on their old inefficient system.
Why are customers choosing to take advantage of the scheme to upgrade their heating system to natural gas?
Customers are typically very keen to upgrade to natural gas and the added incentive of a grant towards replacing their old boiler makes it a logical and easy decision.
Customers want the benefits that natural gas offers, such as instant heat and hot water and to be able to Pay As You Go instead of larger one-off payments. A lot of my customers come from recommendations, where friends or family members have had it in and they have seen the difference it makes.
What work is typically involved in getting natural gas installed?
In a standard conversion to natural gas where the supply is available locally, the existing radiators and pipework remain as they are and so there is very limited disruption to the house. The main area we concentrate on is where the new boiler is being installed, which would be protected with dust sheets. Usually a natural gas conversion will take one to two days to install.
 About the Boiler Replacement Allowance
The Boiler Replacement Allowance is managed and administered by the NI Housing Executive. The Boiler Replacement Allowance offers up to £1,000 cash back for householders wanting to upgrade their boilers (guided by income-based criteria). Since the introduction of the scheme in September 2012, around 30,000 homes have had their old boilers (aged 15 years +) replaced with new, high efficiency central heating boilers.
 About Phoenix Natural Gas
Phoenix Natural Gas is the largest gas distribution business in Northern Ireland, operating a distribution network across the Greater Belfast Area and Larne which extends to 3,500km of pipeline and brings natural gas to over 50% of the population of Northern Ireland. After 20 years in Northern Ireland, Phoenix Natural Gas has successfully developed the market and built its network, connecting 200,000 customers and establishing natural gas as the fuel of choice for customers in the licence area.
The company also recently announced its extension of the pipeline into County Down, bringing the benefits of natural gas to a further 28,000 homes and businesses. Phoenix Natural Gas also embraces its corporate responsibility and connects with the local community in its outreach programmes. For more information on Phoenix Natural Gas visit:
