If you are not sure which boilers you can have with a government grant, you are not alone. Many households in the UK are keen on having a new heating system, but it is not always clear which boilers are included.
In 2025, the British government will offer boiler grants in its ECO4 scheme, which helps poor families replace old, inefficient gas boilers with new, energy-efficient boilers. Not all boilers are accepted, however.
So, which boilers are included in the government free boiler scheme? Let us analyse step by step.
Understanding Government Boiler Grants
Before describing the various forms of boilers, let us have a look at how this grant works.
Throughout the UK, boiler grants are largely accessible through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme. The ECO4 scheme obliges large energy companies to aid poor households in reducing energy consumption with new heating installations.
The government does not give you money – in its stead, energy companies pay towards new boilers and installation in homes that are eligible.
So let us consider the type of boilers that are available in this scheme.
Types of Boilers Covered by Government Grants
The government grant on boilers can be accessed on a range of new energy-efficient boilers. Let us look at each in turn:
Gas Boilers: The Main Type
The government ECO4 grant on boilers mainly focuses on gas boilers. The vast majority of homes in the UK are on a gas grid, and a new energy-efficient gas boiler in relation to a regular non-condensing gas boiler can greatly minimise heating costs.
Gas boilers heat water with natural gas that is distributed through radiators in your residence, as well as taps with hot water. They are cost-effective, efficient, and more environmentally sound once replaced with a newer model.
If you have a pre-April 2022 gas meter in your home and are in a situation that qualifies you, you can be on track for a free gas boiler replacement.
Some of the important gas boilers that are included in the scheme are:
- Combi Boilers (Combination Boilers)
Combi boilers are the biggest sector in terms of coverage in ECO4. Combi boilers are also the most popular boiler in the UK as they provide you with instant hot water as well as central heating from a single device.
Why Are Combi Boilers Favoured?
- No second water reservoir is required, which helps in saving space.
- They supply you with hot water as you need it, i.e., you do not have to wait on a heating tank.
- They are highly energy-efficient, which keeps gas bills down.
Who Should Get a Combi Boiler?
Combi boilers are suitable for small to mid-size homes with a single or two bathrooms. A more appropriate alternative is a system boiler in case you have a household that draws a high level of hot water at once.
- System Boilers
ECO4 also encompasses system boilers, though these are not as common as combi boilers. System boilers are unlike combi boilers in that a hot water cylinder is used in order to hold hot water.
Why Are System Boilers Covered?
- They are more suited to large homes with multiple spaces that are in need of hot water at once.
- They are suited to homes that have a preexisting hot water cylinder.
- They are energy-efficient, which lowers heating bills overall.
Who Should Get a System Boiler?
System boilers are ideal in homes with multiple bathrooms, where multiple taps as well as multiple showers can be run at once.
- Regular (Heat-Only) Boilers
Some regular boilers, also known as heat-only boilers, are also available on the scheme. They both have a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank (usually in a loft space).
Why Are Regular Boilers Covered?
- Certain homes, especially older homes, have a heat-only configuration.
- Replacing an old boiler with a new one is, at times, more cost-effective as a substitute in another system.
- They are suitable for large homes with high hot water demands.
Who Should Get a Regular Boiler?
Regular boilers are suitable for households with older heating units with a preexisting configuration that is tank-based.
Available Boiler Brands Under Government Grants
Some of the foremost boiler brands available under the ECO4 scheme are listed below:
- Worcester Bosch
Worcester Bosch is a leading and trustworthy boiler brand in the UK. The boilers are highly efficient and reliable, and have a wonderful reputation regarding customer care.
Popular Worcester Bosch models covered by the scheme include:
- Greenstar 4000 Combi Boiler – A highly energy-efficient, space-saving combi boiler suitable for smaller homes.
- Greenstar 8000 Combination Boiler – A high-efficiency boiler ideal for large homes with high heating demands.
- Greenstar 24i System Boiler – Suitable for homes with a hot water cylinder.
- Vaillant
Vaillant is also a prestige boiler manufacturer with a reputation for quiet operation alongside innovative design. The boilers are also highly energy-efficient in terms of ErP ratings, which is perfect for those looking for a cost-saving measure.
Popular models from Vaillant available on the scheme:
- ecoTEC Plus Combi Boiler – A simple interface with a highly efficient boiler.
- ecoFIT Pure System Boiler – Suitable for homes that require a system boiler arrangement.
- Viessmann
Viessmann boilers are known for having state-of-the-art technology as well as high efficiency. They are becoming more favored in the UK because of their high-quality German engineering as well as durability.
Some Viessmann models covered by the scheme include:
- Vitodens 050-W Combi Boiler – A space-efficient, energy-efficient alternative perfect for smaller homes.
- Vitodens 100-W System Boiler – Ideal for homes with high hot water requirements.
- Ideal Boilers
Ideal Boilers feature cost-efficient, high-performance boilers that are ideal for ECO4 demands. They are a much sought-after alternative for those looking for reliable operation at a lower cost.
Popular Ideal boilers on the grant:
- Ideal Logic Max Combi Boiler – A highly efficient, affordable combination boiler.
- Ideal Vogue Max System Boiler – A highly efficient system boiler with impressive energy-saving features.
How to Apply for a Government Boiler Grant
If you think that you are likely to be eligible for a free boiler grant, do the following:
Check Your Eligibility
- You are a private tenant (if approved by a landlord) or a homeowner.
- Your non-condensing boiler is more than 15 years old.
- You will have to be in receipt of a qualifying government benefit, i.e., Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income Support.
Contact a Registered Installer
Once you have confirmed that you are eligible, you will have to apply via an ECO4-approved installer. They will:
- Evaluate your heating system at home.
- Check whether you can claim additional home insulation work.
- Organise a free boiler installation on approval.
Get Your Free Boiler Installed
- If you are accepted for the free boiler grant, a new energy-efficient boiler will be installed in its place at no cost or a small contribution.
The Bottom Line
Government boiler grants are a wonderful way for suitable homeowners can replace heating systems at no cost. The grant is primarily available for gas boilers with a concentration on combi boilers, system boilers, as well as regular boilers from leading brands such as Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Viessmann, and Ideal.
If you have an old, inefficient boiler, a grant application can save you hundreds of pounds annually on fuel bills, in addition to heating your home more efficiently and making it greener.
