How to Apply for a Boiler Upgrade Grant

The Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available from Spring 2022. It aims to make the switch from a boiler to a heat pump more affordable for property owners across the UK. In this post, we’ll provide a bit more info on the grant itself and explain how to apply.

What is a boiler upgrade grant?

A boiler upgrade grant is the core offering of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. It applies to three potential upgrades:

• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Biomass boilers

Eligible air source heat pump installations are entitled to a grant of £5,000, while more expensive ground source heat pumps can be subsidised with a grant of £6,000.

It’s also worth noting that grants for biomass boilers are restricted to rural areas where the system being replaced isn’t suitable for a heat pump upgrade. In other words, it isn’t fuelled directly by electricity or mains gas.

5 steps to apply for a boiler upgrade grant

1. Check your eligibility

The first step, before applying, is to check that you’re eligible for the boiler upgrade grant:

• The grant is available for domestic and non-domestic customers throughout England and Wales.
• You must be replacing an existing fossil fuel or direct electric system.
• The heat pump’s capacity mustn’t exceed 45kW.
• It must be designed to provide all of your heating and hot water.
• You may have to take out some basic energy efficiency improvements.

2. Make improvements

If your property’s Energy Performance Certificate shows that some recommended measures have not been implemented, you’ll need to get them sorted to be eligible for the grant. This includes things like cavity wall insulation to ensure maximum efficiency for your heat pump and your home going forward.

3. Choose your upgrade type

The next step is to choose which kind of boiler upgrade grant you’ll be applying for. In most cases, this comes down to an air source or ground source heat pump. The main difference is that the former extracts heat from the air, while the latter gets it from the ground.

Because of this, ground source heat pumps require more work to install, making them more expensive too. In most cases, air source heat pumps are the recommended option for cost-efficiency.

4. Find an installer

Time to find an installer. As part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, installers must be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. This ensures that the grant is only provided for reliable, compliant and high-quality installations.

Some other factors to take into account are the installer’s location, experience and reviews. You may also want to consider this step earlier in the process, as the best contractors can provide advice and assistance with your eligibility and the most suitable upgrade.

5. Get a quote

Finally, you’ll need to get a quote. Once you’re happy to proceed, the installer will apply for your boiler upgrade grant through Ofgem. The grant of £5,000 or £6,000 will be sent directly to the installer and taken off the price you pay.

Get started today

If you’re ready to take the first steps towards the boiler upgrade grant, COA Services is on hand to help throughout Yorkshire. Based in Harrogate, we can assist with the entire air source heat pump installation process, from eligibility and design to applying for your grant and installing your new system.

To find out more, call us on 01423 408 336 or email [email protected].