To have a free-of-cost central heating system in your home, you should search for schemes providing free central heating system installation services. For this purpose, you can take help from the following blog post.
What are First Time Central Heating Grants?
Several schemes install different types of heating systems in homes for the first time. The most famous of them are the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO), and other regional programs. The first-time central heating grants include several services, such as the following:
- Boilers
- Thermostat
- Pipework
- Radiators
Moreover, the first time central heating grants also offers home insulation if it doesn’t have effective insulation.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for First Time Heating Grants?
The first time heating grants are not open for everyone. Only eligible households can get these grants for their homes. These eligibility criteria includes the following factors:
Ownership of Home
First of all, they check the ownership of the home. If you are applying for central heat grants, you have to show your ownership. The private tenants need permission from the homeowner to apply for this scheme. In the case of a social housing scheme, the applicant should have at least 50% ownership.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating
The second factor for the first time central heating system grants is their energy efficiency. They check this energy efficiency through their EPC rating. This rating should be lower than D, that can be D, E, F, or G.
In case your home doesn’t have an EPC rating, you have to ask the team for the energy efficiency assessment of your home.
Government Benefits
The Energy companies provide central heating grants only to those households who are recipients of government benefits. However, all the government benefits are not eligible for first time heating grants. Only following benefits are eligible for the first time heating grants:
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Job Seeker Allowance
- Housing Benefits
It is compulsory that at least one of your family members is receiving any of these government benefits.
Local Authority
Sometimes, local authorities check the financial conditions and struggle for the energy bills. They send their information to the energy companies to install free of cost efficient energy systems in their homes.
Home Insulation
The complete home insulation is required before heating system installation. Without insulation the efficiency of the system will be decreased. If there is no insulation, you should ask the installer. The first time central heating grants can provide insulation grants to low-income households.
How to Apply for First Time Heating Grants?
If your home doesn’t have a previous heating system in your home, you will definitely need a heating system. You can have an efficient heating system in your home by following the steps given below:
- Find out all the possible schemes, such as ECO4, which are offering first time heating installations.
- Then, you have to find their eligibility criteria. You have to confirm your eligibility for the respective scheme.
- You have to prepare all the required documents for the grant. If you are considering the ECO4, you will need the following documents:
- Proof of identity that includes the identity card, passport, or driving license.
- Proof of eligibility, such as details about tax credit, government benefits, payslips, etc.
- Documents that show the ownership of your home, such as the council tax bill or tenancy agreement.
- Document showing the EPC rating.
- Details about your current heating system and requirements.
You have to submit these documents on the portal of this scheme. You should prefer the scanned documents over their pictures.
- After application and documents submission, you have to schedule an assessment. In this assessment, a team of central heating grants will check the current condition and efficiency of your heating system and home. This assessment is not only for checking your home’s eligibility but also to know the suitable heating system for your home.
- After some days of assessment, you will receive a letter of approval. They will call and discuss the timeline for the installation process. On the planned time, the team will arrive and install the heating system.
In this way, the process of first time heating system installation will be completed. They will deliver the required documents and guide you about the maintenance of the system.
What are the Benefits of First Time Central Heating Grants?
The first time central heating grants comes with several benefits, such as the following:
Free of Cost Heating System
The best thing about the first time central heating grants is their free service. If you install a central heating system without any grant, it can cost you £3,000 to £20,000. You just need to be eligible for the grant and they will become responsible for complete installation. They will prepare the site and clean the home after installation.
Comfortable Temperature
The central heating system installed through the first time central heating grants has a very efficient control system. It has a thermostat in which you can set different temperatures for different times according to your routine. Moreover, these systems ensure that everyone in the home is enjoying a comfortable temperature.
Low Energy Bills
One of the main goals of these grants is to provide the most efficient heating systems in the home. The efficient heating systems consume less fuel and produce more heat. Moreover, they use renewable energy resources for this purpose. In this way, your energy costs will be reduced.
High Quality Heating Systems
The heating systems of first time central heating systems grants will be of very high quality. They will be durable and need very small maintenance. This will give you peace of mind and you can rely on them for your family’s comfortability.
Conclusion
The aim of all the free first time central heating grants is to help the low income families. They actually want to reduce fuel poverty and increase the efficiency of their heating systems. Moreover, they want to decrease the carbon emissions in the country by providing efficient heating systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does First Time Central Heating System Mean?
The First Time Central Heating System means a heating system that is present in the home center. It is composed of boilers, radiators, pipework, and thermostat.
How Much Does the First Time Central Heating System Cost?
The First Time Central Heating System can cost you in between £2,500 to £6,000 in the UK.
How Do You Set Up the First Time Central Heating System?
First of all, you need to make a first time central heating system map. Then, install the radiators according to the plan. After this, spread a pipe system and connect them with the radiators. Fix the boiler with the pipes and install a control system in the form of a thermostat.
