Removal of old boilers

[Julie]

Hi
Has anyone else had issues with Warm Front not removing the old boiler? I have had a couple of clients had this happen to them - all Warm Front will say is:

'Installer manager advised that ‘The scheme has no obligation to remove the old boiler and any flue that may be in place. We must first consider the possibility of Asbestos and what technical solution / boiler position is required (Scheme Architecture). If we are sighting elsewhere then it will remain insitu as a customer responsibility.

In both instances, the boiler was placed right next to the old one, taking up valuable space and leaving the elderly client to organise removal.

Julie

[David]

Dear Julie

In our experience this has been standard practice in WF for a number of years. What we have insisted is that hotwater tanks are drained (although most of these are removed now as they have a decent cash value). We've also asked where possible contractors disconnect from the wall and leave it to the families to sort out removal (we have a bulky goods collection service so clients can get it removed for free from their front door step). The main issue is there is a cost associated with this and that affects the grant maxima so most contractors leave it behind to keep the costs down. This is particularly sensitive where the previous system was a warm air one and because there is lots of asbestos associated with the kit, the removal costs are not covered by WF and hence they are left in-situ. We are advised by WF that as long as they are left alone these systems are considered safe as the asbestos is usually contained within the heating equipment.

David