Government Grants to Replace Storage Heaters: Who Can Get One in 2026?

Possibly. ECO4 can fund an upgrade from old, inefficient storage heaters to high heat retention (HHR) storage heaters for eligible households, but funding is never guaranteed. Ofgem classes a storage heater rated 0.2 or below on the SAP responsiveness scale as inefficient, and a survey is needed to confirm which group yours falls into.

It depends on how many heaters you have, the models chosen and the state of your home, so we do not quote a price here. If you qualify for ECO4, the upgrade may be fully or partly funded, and Ofgem says some households can be asked to contribute. Whatever the route, get the cost to you confirmed before agreeing to any work.

The main options are HHR storage heaters, an air source heat pump or, in some homes, first-time central heating. Which one fits depends on your home, your tariff and what funding you qualify for, and a survey is how you find out. The comparison table earlier on this page sets out each option.

It depends on how you want to heat the home, and it is worth checking funding first. ECO4 funding is aimed at storage heaters and electric heating systems that reach a 0.8 responsiveness rating, and Ofgem does not count electric room heaters, fixed or portable, as a main heating system. If you would pay yourself, compare running costs on your own tariff and get written quotes.

It can be, but it depends on your current heaters, your tariff and your home. Ofgem classes heaters rated 0.2 or below as inefficient, and an upgrade funded through ECO4 may cost you little or nothing. If you would pay yourself, get written quotes and compare them with your current running costs, because we cannot give a payback figure that holds for every home.

Under ECO4, every storage heater installed must have a manufactured SAP responsiveness rating of 0.8 or above, and Ofgem says HHR storage heaters meet that. This page is not a buying guide and we do not rank brands or models, so ask for the responsiveness rating of any heater you are quoted for.

Not under ECO4 today. Ofgem's ECO4 rules still allow upgrades to HHR storage heaters in eligible homes until 31 December 2026. We cannot confirm what the rules will be after ECO4 closes, so check GOV.UK for the latest position before planning around it.

Yes, modern storage heaters are still installed, including under ECO4, where new heaters must have a SAP responsiveness rating of 0.8 or above. This page is not a buying guide, and we do not recommend retailers or brands.

They use electricity to charge, so the cost depends on your off-peak rate, how many heaters you have, how well insulated the home is and how you set the controls. Storing more heat than you need wastes electricity, and charging at the standard rate instead of the off-peak rate costs more. We do not give a monthly figure because it varies too much from home to home.

Not on age alone. The State Pension is not a qualifying benefit for ECO4, but Pension Credit is, and pensioners without it may still qualify through a council LA Flex referral. The Warm Home Discount is separate: GOV.UK describes it as a one-off discount off an electricity bill, with rules that depend on where you live.

Generally not for a like-for-like swap. Ofgem's guidance says replacing or upgrading an electric storage heater is generally not eligible in a private rented home, with exceptions such as first-time central heating or renewable heating such as a heat pump. Tenants also need the landlord's permission before any work goes ahead.

Possibly. Ofgem's guidance says all ECO4 heating measures are subject to insulation pre-conditions, so a survey may find your home needs insulation too, which may be installed as part of the same ECO4 project.

Yes, it is ending. Ofgem says ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, following a nine-month extension. Check your eligibility well before then, because the survey and any installation take time, and we cannot confirm what, if anything, will replace it for storage heaters.