The return of the boiler scrappage scheme

The British Gas boiler scrappage scheme is back, with the offer of £400 off a new energy efficient boiler. But is it worth going for?

It might be summer (sort of) now but it’s the ideal time to think about getting a new boiler if yours is on its last legs. If you wait until yours packs up mid-winter you’ll be at the mercy of busy plumbers and dodgy weather.

That's why it's so welcome that British Gas has relaunched its boiler scrappage scheme. But is the offer as good as it seems?

What British Gas is offering

The energy giant is offering £400 off any model from its Worcester range, or £200 off other boiler models when you ask for a quote to provide and install a new boiler.

The offer is open until 30th June 2011 – but households only need to arrange for British Gas to quote them for a new boiler before then, not actually have it installed.

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Prices for the Worcester Bosch models used in the scheme start from around £2,000, including installation, according to British Gas.

This scheme will help to plug the gap left by the withdrawal of the Government scheme, which finished in March last year. Unlike the Government scheme, which had a cap of 125,000 boilers, there is no limit set on the British Gas scheme as long as consumers apply by 30th June.

Importantly, this scheme isn't just available to British Gas customers, which means that any households interested in a new energy efficient boiler can apply.

Do you need a new boiler?

If you have a boiler that is 15 years old or older you might find it hard to get home emergency insurance to cover it. Likewise, if you call out a plumber to fix it you might find it’s impossible to get the necessary parts.

So, it can be a shrewd move to think about a new boiler now rather than when your old one breaks down in the middle of winter leaving you freezing cold.

Another reason to replace your boiler is to get a more energy efficient one. According to research by uSwitch.com, installing an energy efficient boiler can save households up to £225 a year on heating bills.

Is the British Gas offer any good?

The only way to find out how good the offer is for you is to shop around and got some quotes.

My own experience tells me that shopping around for a new boiler and its installation can result in some wildly varied prices. You might assume that British Gas and the economies of scale it can take advantage of will mean it offers customers the cheapest deal – but think again.

In many cases a small independent plumber will work out cheaper. Generally it’s not the boiler itself that will cost you dear, but the installation itself. If you’re having a full heating system overhaul, including radiators and heating controls, the cost will go up considerably.

So when you’re getting quotes, make sure you look at the total cost: the boiler itself, installation, and any extras such as new radiators or pipework.

Make sure any plumber you hire is on the Gas Safe register as opting for someone unqualified to do a potentially dangerous job could end in disaster.

Don’t assume you’ll get better customer service from British Gas either. It might be a big company but it’s not massively popular with its customers. The most recent Which? customer satisfaction survey of energy providers found that British Gas couldn’t match up to the customer service experience offered by smaller rivals.

Another downside of the British Gas deal is that the £400 discount is limited to its Worcester Bosch range, although you can get £200 off other models. You might find that this isn’t the best boiler for your needs – if you have a limited space to install it in for example.

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