Boilers are useful water-heating appliances for home and industrial use. While they can last a long time, they require timely maintenance and, eventually, replacement. However, getting a new boiler can cost anywhere between £600 and £2,500, based on the system type and model. This makes it a significant expense. For seniors looking to save some money here, there are several ways to get boiler installation and replacement at an affordable cost.

1. Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

To help people save money on boiler installation and replacement, the government came up with the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. The ECO scheme has been primarily set up to ensure medium and large energy suppliers offer support to households in order to lower domestic carbon emissions. Another goal of the ECO is tackling fuel poverty. Under the scheme, energy companies across England, Scotland, and Wales will pay for the installation of energy-saving measures in needy households. This includes the replacement of an old and inefficient boiler, among many other things. So, such boilers can be replaced at subsidised rates or even free of cost. To benefit from the ECO scheme, it is crucial to meet the eligibility criteria. As the funds for the scheme are limited, the criteria can be quite stringent. For starters, to be eligible for ECO scheme benefits, a senior must own their home or have necessary permission from their landlord if they are a private tenant to make improvements to their home, which includes replacing the boiler. In addition, one can benefit from the scheme if they receive any of the following benefits:

– Child Benefit
– Pension Guarantee Credit
– Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
– Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
– Income Support
– Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
– Universal Credit
– Housing benefit
– Pension credit saving credit.

2. Great British Insulation scheme (ECO+)
Another government-led scheme that can help seniors get access to the cheapest boiler installation and replacement in 2024 is the Great British Insulation Scheme. Also known as ECO+, the scheme aims to extend support to even more people than the original ECO scheme does. So, ECO+ has expanded the original scheme to include households that fall under council tax bands A–D in England and A–E in Scotland and Wales. Further, these households must have EPC ratings of D or lower. Additionally, the ECO+ scheme enables those who belong to the low-income group to seek claims for the installation of heating controls and insulation. Heating controls can reduce the cost of running the boilers.

3. Affordable Warmth Obligation scheme
A part of the ECO scheme, the Affordable Warmth Obligation provides necessary support to cover the cost of repairing or replacing boilers. In addition, the support extends to other energy-saving improvements one may need for their home. While this seems to be quite beneficial for seniors, they need to ensure they meet the following eligibility criteria:

– They must own their home
– If renting a house from a private landlord, seniors must get the necessary permissions from the landlord to make home improvements
– The cost of heating their home should be quite high, and the home should be energy-inefficient
– They or another home inhabitant should be a means-tested benefit, have a chronic health condition, and have a low income

In addition, one can check the full list of eligibility guidelines on the UK government’s Affordable Warmth Obligation webpage. In Wales, the scheme is known as Nest and is managed by British Gas. To understand the eligibility criteria better, one can look up the scheme operator’s contact details and contact them. 

4. Boiler Upgrade scheme
If one is looking for affordable gas boiler replacement for seniors, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is worth considering to save substantially on installation and replacement. This grant offers households up to £7,500 to replace boilers with air-source or ground-source heat pumps (including water-source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops). For biomass boilers, seniors can get around £5,000. Seniors who wish to take advantage of this grant can access it via any MCS-accredited installer, who will apply on the customer’s behalf. However, to get the grant, one must have an EPC certificate, which has been valid for the last 10 years without any outstanding recommendations for cavity wall insulation or loft.

5. Other options
For those who are not eligible for government-led schemes, several brands offer some of the cheapest boiler installation and replacement for seniors. Here are some of the brands to consider:

Viessmann:  This brand can quote some of the cheapest boiler installation and replacement costs in 2024. This is because Viessmann is known to make boilers with excellent efficiency and longer lifespans. The installation and replacement of an A-rated Viessmann boiler can cost more than £1,000 through suppliers like BOXT. For those looking for deals, the brand may offer discounts of £50. While this may not seem like much, such deals often come with a 10-year warranty, next-day installation, and worthwhile financing options.

Worcester Bosch:  Affordable gas boiler replacement for seniors is not that difficult with deals on Worcester Bosch gas boilers. While the average price range is £975–£1,200, deals offering £100 off can substantially bring down the overall cost.

Vaillant:  This is another brand offering about £100 off on the cost of installation and replacement. Valiant offers a wide range of gas boiler solutions for homes of varying types and sizes. Each boiler model is known to offer high quality, reliability, and performance.