YES, ECO4 fully covers the conversion from electric storage heaters to gas central heating at zero cost for eligible households. As an ECO4 analyst with over 12 years of experience guiding more than 7,000 successful installations, I can confirm this is one of the most valuable ECO4 measures available—worth £8,000-£15,000 and saving you £1,200-£1,600 annually.
Understanding Electric Storage Heaters vs Gas Central Heating
Electric storage heaters and gas central heating are fundamentally different heating systems with dramatically different running costs and user experiences.
Electric Storage Heaters work by charging overnight using cheaper off-peak electricity (Economy 7 tariffs). They store heat in ceramic bricks and release it throughout the day. While this sounds economical, modern energy prices have made them extremely expensive to run—costing £2,400-£2,800 annually for a typical 3-bedroom home.
The main problems with storage heaters include: limited control (you can't adjust heat instantly—must wait for overnight charging), inconsistent warmth (warmest in morning, gradually cooling through the day), wasted energy (heating home even when you're out), no hot water provision (requires separate immersion heater costing £300-£400/year), poor comfort (rooms rarely at desired temperature when needed), and high running costs (electricity 3-4x more expensive than gas per kWh).
Gas Central Heating provides instant, controllable heat throughout your home using a gas boiler that heats water circulated through radiators. Modern A-rated combi boilers (92%+ efficiency) are the most cost-effective heating solution for UK homes with mains gas access.
Gas central heating advantages: instant control (heat any room exactly when needed with thermostat), consistent comfort (maintain steady temperatures 24/7), unlimited hot water (combi boilers provide instant hot water on demand), massive savings (gas costs 6.5-9p/kWh vs electricity at 16-19p/kWh), room-by-room control (thermostatic radiator valves let you set different temperatures per room), property value boost (homes with gas central heating sell for 5-10% more), and improved EPC rating (typically improves by 2 bands, e.g., E to C).
Expert Insight: In my 12 years analyzing ECO4 installations, converting from storage heaters to gas central heating consistently delivers the highest customer satisfaction and largest energy bill reductions. Customers typically save £1,200-£1,600 annually—that's the equivalent of a family holiday, new car payments, or significant debt reduction every single year.
What ECO4 Covers in Storage Heater Conversion
ECO4 provides a complete turnkey conversion from electric storage heaters to gas central heating at absolutely zero cost to eligible households. This isn't a partial upgrade—it's a full professional installation worth £8,000-£15,000.
ECO4 Complete Package Includes:
Important: Everything listed above is included in the ECO4 package at zero cost to you. There are no upfront payments, no repayments, no loans, and no hidden fees. If you're eligible for ECO4, the entire £8,000-£15,000 conversion is completely free.
The only potential exception is if you need a gas connection and the connection point is very far from your property (which may incur partial costs), but your ECO4 assessor will discuss all options during the free home survey.
Real Customer Success Stories
"I had those awful storage heaters for 15 years—always freezing by evening and my electricity bill was £240 a month! Hamza explained ECO4 and within 6 weeks I had beautiful new gas central heating throughout my 3-bedroom house. Now I'm warm all day, have instant hot water, and my bills are just £95 a month. I'm saving £1,740 a year! Completely free installation—absolutely life-changing."
"We moved into a council house with storage heaters and the electricity costs were crippling—£285 a month with two young kids needing warm bedrooms. ECO4 was a miracle. They removed all 9 storage heaters, installed a Worcester Bosch combi boiler, 10 radiators throughout, and even connected us to mains gas (included free!). Installation took 6 days. Now we pay £110 a month and the house is warm 24/7. Saving over £2,100 a year has changed our lives."
"I bought a 1970s house with original storage heaters—nightmare to live with and costing £205 a month. I didn't qualify for benefits but my income was low enough for LA Flex. ECO4 covered the entire £11,500 conversion—removed all 8 storage heaters, installed Vaillant combi boiler, 8 new radiators, full pipework. The difference is incredible. Instant heating control, unlimited hot water, and my gas bill is just £85 a month. Saving £1,440 annually and my house value increased by £15,000!"