High Efficiency HVAC Tax Credits Now Available Through 2013

High Efficiency HVAC Tax Credits Now Available Through 2013

On January 2, 2013, President Obama and Congress renewed a tax credit for homeowners and contractors installing high-efficiency HVAC appliances and water heaters until December 2013. Qualifying purchases made during 2012 can also be claimed. Here is a list of the tax credits you may be eligible for.

Water heaters
Heat pump water heaters with a minimum energy factor (EF) of 2.0 may qualify for up to a $300 tax credit, while natural gas, propane or oil water heaters with an EF of at least 0.82 as well as a 90 percent minimum thermal efficiency may also qualify.

Furnaces and boilers
Oil, gas or propane furnaces and boilers will qualify for a $150 tax credit if they have a minimum AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 95 percent.

Air conditioners and heat pumps
The right air conditioner or heat pump can earn you up to $300 in tax credits.

• Split system central units require a minimum 16 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and 13 EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) while packaged central air conditioners require 14 SEER and 13 EER minimum.
• Split system heat pumps must have a minimum HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) rating of 8.5, minimum SEER of 15 and minimum EER of 12.5, while packaged systems should have minimums of 8 HSPF, 14 SEER and 12 EER.

Advanced main air circulating fans
Blower motors used in oil, natural gas or propane furnaces are eligible for a $50 tax credit if their consumption of the energy consumed by the furnace does not total more than 2 percent.

Don’t let the initial price of energy-efficient appliances and cooling systems deter you from purchasing them. While many efficient systems may have a higher price tag, their long-term savings will more than make up for it in the long-run.

If you’re still not convinced that an upgrade to energy efficient appliances is a worthwhile expense, visit our blog for more reasons to make the switch. And don’t forget to contact Air-Tro at (626) 357-3535 for all of your home comfort needs.  We’ve been keeping California comfortable for almost 50 years and look forward to helping you, too.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Pasadena, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about tax credits and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

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