Our HVAC Specialists Are Passionate About Expertly Installing High-Quality Equipment While Helping You Save Money
Out of all the appliances and systems in your home, your HVAC accounts for the most energy usage. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Institute, more than half of the average American household’s consumption comes from space heating and air conditioning. For the money you’re putting into keeping your home comfortable, it’s well worth the effort to have regular cleaning and maintenance performed by an HVAC specialist.
Still, there comes a time when every heating and cooling system needs to be replaced. But how do you know? First, ask yourself these questions:
- Is your HVAC unit over 10 years old?
- Does your HVAC unit continue to need repairs?
- Are your energy bills increasing as a result of an inefficient system?
- Is your home humid, too hot, or too cold? Are you seeing an excessive amount of dust in the air?
If you answered yes to any of the above, an HVAC upgrade is likely on the horizon. Although that may sound like just another added expense, you can drastically improve your home’s efficiency and even take advantage of savings in the process.
Keep reading to learn how to find federal tax credits and HVAC rebates before bringing your system into the modern age.
HVAC Upgrades With Federal Tax Credits and Incentives
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides federal tax credits through 2032 to encourage homeowners to make energy-efficient home improvements. ENERGY STAR, a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, offers a wide selection of certified equipment that’s eligible for these credits.
Homeowners can get federal tax credits of up to $3,200 per year, reducing the cost of energy-efficient upgrades – such as installing a new HVAC system.
Owners and designers of commercial buildings and systems can receive a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot, as long as the heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, and lighting are solely responsible for reducing energy usage by 50 percent. Partial deductions up to $0.60 per square foot are also available to qualifying measures.
There are two key ratings you should know about when looking at rebate- or credit-eligible products for your HVAC upgrade: AFUE and SEER2.
- AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency measures how efficiently gas heating equipment converts fuel to energy. The higher the rating, the more efficient use of fuel. For example, if a furnace gets a 90 percent AFUE rating, that means 90 percent of the fuel used goes to warm your home, while the other 10 percent escapes with the exhaust.
- SEER2 or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2, replacing SEER, measures an air conditioner’s cooling efficiency, dividing the heat removed from the conditioned space during the cooling season by the electrical energy consumed by the system within the same period. Like AFUE, the higher the SEER rating, the more you can save on energy costs.
ENERGY STAR-recognized furnaces must have an AFUE rating of 95 percent or higher, while central air conditioners require a SEER2 of 15.2 or more.
It’s important to note that federal tax credits and incentives change often, so you should do your research before deciding on a new HVAC system.
HVAC Rebates Through Evergy, Spire, and Our Brand Partners
Both Evergy and Spire provide generous HVAC rebate options to Missouri residents in their service areas.
Electricity provider Evergy offers savings on entire central air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits. If you also are a Spire customer, you can combine that with a rebate on equipment that benefits your efficiency with natural gas. As of 2023, customers can receive HVAC rebates between $150 and $1,500 from Evergy and up to $300 from Spire.
As the leading HVAC contractor in Kansas City, we’re also partnered with two of the biggest brand names in our industry: Trane and Lennox. These companies are time and again rated highly by Consumer Reports, and we’re proud to install their equipment in your home to enhance your comfort.
And just like we stay up-to-date on their latest and greatest innovations, we also pay close attention to their HVAC rebate brochures. We not only believe in providing you with exceptional service, but saving you money wherever we can, too.
Find HVAC Rebates Near You With Help From Blue Heating & Cooling!
Now that you know a little more about federal tax credits and HVAC rebates, you may be wondering, “How do I get started?” Blue Heating & Cooling makes it easy, because we’re always looking out for your best interests.
Even when we visit for preventative maintenance, we’ll make sure to mention upcoming HVAC rebates, so you stay informed on all the ways manufacturers and local utility companies can help you save while you further invest in your home.
We’re specialists in HVAC and stand by our mission of providing our customers with quick, efficient, and affordable service. So whether you’re in the market for an HVAC upgrade now or some time in the future, we’d love to talk to you about what federal tax credits and rebates are right for your needs.
Call Blue today at (816) 719-1099, or drop us a line using the contact form on our website.
