Three in four homeowners with heating systems older than eight years had not prepared for the possibility that they might need to replace them, according to a Which? survey published on 27 February 20261. Among those who had not prepared, 27 per cent said they take a "wait-till-it-breaks" approach to their heating1.
The consumer body reported that 15 per cent of those surveyed said they would consider swapping to an air source heat pump for their next heating system1. It noted that a like-for-like boiler replacement often takes only a few days, while a heat pump is likely to take a few weeks1.
On funding, Which? said the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant offers a discount of £7,500 on the upfront price for homeowners in England and Wales, and that access to it requires an MCS-registered engineer1. It added that the Scottish government also offers a similar scheme1. The survey did not report figures for how many households had savings set aside, or the age profile of the systems involved beyond the eight-year threshold1.
Which? set out its position on maintenance and cover:
"Our research consistently finds that, on the whole, you're better off paying ad hoc for boiler repairs, rather than taking out insurance policies that can have spiralling premiums."
The same article advised checking the small print of a boiler's warranty, which it said often requires an annual boiler service to remain valid1. It also noted that heat pumps tend to heat water to lower flow temperatures than boilers, which it said can make them more efficient to run where a home has large heat emitters such as radiators1.
Why it matters for households
A heating system that fails without warning forces a decision at the worst moment, when the choice is limited to whatever can be installed quickly. The survey suggests most households with older systems are carrying that risk. For a home's energy independence, the practical difference is between choosing a system on its running costs and suitability, and accepting whatever replacement is available at short notice.
The figures also point to a gap between interest in heat pumps and readiness for them. Fifteen per cent said they would consider one, but the longer installation window means a heat pump is harder to fit into an emergency replacement. Homes that have already had radiators assessed, or that have underfloor heating installed, are in a different position when the boiler fails.
The grant position differs by nation, and the Boiler and Heating Grants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pages set out what each scheme covers. The £7,500 figure cited by Which? applies to England and Wales1.
What happens next
No further dates were given in the survey. Which? pointed readers to its own home energy planning tool, which it said uses data entered by the household alongside EPC reports to indicate how energy bills could be reduced and what the upfront cost might be1.
Sources1 cited
- Planning for your boiler's replacement - Which?, which.co.uk