central heating monitoring schemes

Aug 16, 2006 8 Replies

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PP 20 years ago

Our old 15 year combi boiler is giving all kinds of problems lately and we also have problems with the system with two rads no longer working and a noisy system. About a month ago while looking into prices of boilers and installation I came across a company offering (I think) half price central heating systems and installation in return to aggreeing to monitor heating costs for 12 months. I think they were called something like the UK Energy Monitoring Programme but I can't be absolutley sure on that. I got a phone call today saying that surprise surprise our post code (Liverpool area) and the problems we have with our boiler/system qualify for the scheme. I was wondering whether anyone has had any experience of such a company and if possible can remind me of the companies name. Thanks Phil

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Information here may be outdated?

Phil Anthropist 20 years ago

Never heard of them. Unless they are getting some financial subsidy/government grant/funding, as happens with loft and cavity wall insulation, I don't see how they can genuinely install central hating at half price, unless they have found a source of half price boilers, rads, pumps, tubing etc, and the fitters are willing to work for half pay. Beware of this monitoring heating costs being a 'hook', and when the salesman calls he finds that after all you don't qualify or it is costed out at what is full price anyway.

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Uno-Hoo! 20 years ago

Wise advice. Sounds a bit like these: "If you let us use your house as a 'demo home' we'll install your conservatory for half-price." Usually a scam just to get them in through the door!

Kev

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PP 20 years ago

Hi again The sales rep has just been and quoted a price for a full system including 7 new rads, Baxi boiler, TRV's and wireless controller etc, and an inline gas conditioner for a total of £4195 with the monitoring programme, when the full price is supposed to be £6195. This includes installation and VAT. How does it sound for a 3 bed semi? Thanks Phil

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ARWadsworth 20 years ago

Do the words "hook line and sinker" mean anything to you.

Adam

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EricP 20 years ago

I don't know what "an inline gas conditioner" is, although I have an idea, but you are being robbed blind on everything else. Even British Gas could knock thousands off £6195, and as you suspected, the "discount" was a con as well.

In a similar installation with 8 rads, I did the basic plumbing and hung the rads. The plumber put a Worcester boiler in and did everything in connection with that and charged me £1400. The cost of my side was about £500. To have the plumber do the entire thing would have been not much more than £2100.

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PP 20 years ago

Thanks for your help guys. Just been on a money saving forum (the guy who has a spot on Radio 2) and there were a few posts on there that questioned this company (Energi Heating). A few of the posts suggest a similar system, (but not using nylon pipework and aluminium rads as Energi Heating use), but reckon £2500 is a more reasonable price. BTW, the url for the company is

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Phil

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Andrew Gabriel 20 years ago

Not the same scheme, but there's Energysmart,

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can get a voucher from them to get a condensing boiler cheaply through Plumb Center. It's possible the scheme may have changed since I looked at it. Also, although you get the boiler much cheaper than Plumb Center's normal price, it may be that you can get the same boiler cheaper through another supplier.

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