Do you own your own home or rent privately?
If you are, and you’re off-gas, why not have a look at gas connection grants and see if using gas would reduce your energy costs.
Grants are available from Warm Wales, who are working with Wales & West Utilities on the Warm Home Assistance scheme. This scheme provides householders with gas connection grants by issuing vouchers to qualifying customers, which can be used against the cost of a new gas connection.
Key advantages to connecting to gas include:
- Cost savings: natural gas is often a cheaper fuel source than electricity, heating oil, or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) in most areas. Modern, A-rated gas boilers are highly efficient (often over 90%), leading to lower long-term heating bills.
- Convenience and reliability: a piped gas supply is continuous, so you eliminate the need for monitoring fuel levels, scheduling deliveries, or the risk of running out of fuel during cold weather.
- Instant heat and hot water: gas heating systems are known for providing fast and reliable warmth and instant hot water on demand, which is often quicker than electric or older oil systems.
- Space savings: connecting to the mains gas network means you can remove on-site fuel storage tanks (oil or LPG), freeing up valuable indoor or outdoor space.
- Versatility: natural gas can be used for a variety of appliances beyond central heating and hot water, including gas cookers, tumble dryers, and gas fires, offering flexibility in your home design and use.
- Lower maintenance: gas boilers generally require less maintenance than oil systems, which can be prone to soot build-up and require regular cleaning.
- Environmental benefits: natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, producing fewer carbon emissions, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides than oil or solid fuels, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
- Increased property value: upgrading a property to a modern, efficient gas central heating system can increase its market appeal and resale value.
Already use gas?
Gas or no gas, you may also be eligible for help with energy efficiency in your home from Nest, a Welsh Government scheme that provides free advice and home improvements to help you save energy and money.
Nest provides free, impartial advice to:
- make sure you’re on the best energy and water tariff
- check whether you are entitled to any benefits
- lower your carbon footprint
- install your own low carbon technology
Find out more and get advice about your home using one of the below:
- online: energy advice for your home
- by phone: Nest free on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm)
- request a callback from Nest about home energy advice
- email: advicewales@est.org.uk
