HOUSEHOLDS looking to upgrade their home can apply for a free cash grant from today worth up to £6,000.
The government has launched the boiler upgrade scheme to help people replace old gas heating with newer, greener technology.
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Gas boilers could soon be banned in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.
To encourage people to go for greener options the government is offering grants for installing heat pumps to help cover the cost.
Heat pumps are a greener way to heat your home and can lower your energy bills too.
They work a bit like a reverse refrigerator, extracting heat from the air outside and pumping it into the home.
There are two types of air-source heat pumps, air-to-water systems and air-to-air systems.
There are also ground source heat pumps that take the heat from underground by pumping water through it in pipes.
According to Energy Helpline, air sourced pumps tend to be cheaper, with purchase and installation costs anywhere between £8,000 and £14,000.
Ground source heat pumps are far pricier at £15,000 to £25,000, though the price for either depend on the size of your home.
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To help with the cost you can apply for a grant through the boiler upgrade scheme, which opens for applications from May 23.
You can get up to £6,000 to help cover the cost of a ground-source heat pump or £5,000 for an air source one.
You can save money with up to £5,000 for a biomass boiler, which uses natural materials like wood pellets to power heating and hot water, if you live in a rural area.
All the grants can go towards the cost of the appliance itself and installation costs – you don’t have to pay the money back.
If the heat pump or boiler costs more than this you’ll have to cover the rest of the cost yourself.
The cash means you’ll be paying an amount closer to what you would if you were installing a traditional gas boiler, which can cost £500 to £1,500.
Households could benefit in the long-run by getting a heat pump installed, as you could save as much as £1,975 if you swap your gas boiler for a heat pump.
The scheme is available in England and Waled from now until 2025 and you’ll need to own the home you’re in to be eligible.
You won’t get the cash directly, you’ll need to find a heat pump installer registered with the scheme who will apply for the grant on your behalf.
The amount will then be discounted from your bill for the work.
You can find an installer in your area here, and you’ll need to check with your chosen engineer that the work is eligible for the scheme.
Don’t forget when you’re getting any work done to get several quotes so you can get the best price.
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