HVAC rebate: which programs cover heating and cooling?
In some states. HVAC rebate — Indiana Energy Saver covers income-limited heat pump work. Federal credit ended; IRS: “You can’t claim energy efficient home improvement credits for expenditures or property placed in service after December 31, 2025.” Historical federal furnace credit cap: “$600” IRS, read October 21, 2026.
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For an HVAC replacement, post the equipment scope on InstaBids and ask contractors for written bids.
- Describe it onceBy chat, or through your own AI assistant, and add photos.
- Post it and send itContractors bid in writing on that scope.
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- You chooseContact details stay hidden until you pick and they confirm.
At a glance
- December 31, 2025Federal home improvement credit: improvements made throughInternal Revenue Service (IRS), read October 17, 2026
- 150%Indiana HEAR: household income must be less than this share of area median incomeIndiana Office of Energy Development (page title: OED: Home Energy Rebates), read October 22, 2026
- 200%DOE weatherization: poverty-income guideline threshold; states may use another criterionU.S. Department of Energy, Weatherization Assistance Program, read October 17, 2026
For your AI assistant
MCP connector · REST API · plain HTMLHand any of these to your assistant and it can help you write this job's request; you send the request yourself. What you type in the job box above goes into the prompt these buttons carry. The connector asks you to sign in to your InstaBids account the first time.
- MCP connector URL
https://instabids.ai/api/agent/mcp - Agent API (OpenAPI)
https://instabids.ai/openapi.json - Start-request link
https://instabids.ai/intake?trade=hvac&from=rebates-hvac-rebate&utm_source=us&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=rebates&page_type=rebates&job=HVAC+system+replacement - Prompt for any AI, with your job
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- GeminiCopies the prompt, then opens
Every page is plain HTML. Steps for every assistant: add to your assistant.
Programs, amounts and status
| Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Rebate Program | “up to $8,000*” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “Home Energy Rebates are now available in select states.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The HOMES Rebate Program provides rebates for eligible whole-home energy upgrade projects for households at all income levels. American households can save up to $8,000* on home upgrades based on modeled energy savings levels with a minimum savings of 20%. HOMES offers several possible pathways to affordable upgrades including insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, duct sealing, appliances, and lighting. HOMES rebates provide Americans with household upgrades that can lower monthly energy bills while improving comfort and quality of the home.” How to apply: naseo.org (individuals do not apply to this agency directly)U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), read 17 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program | “up to $14,000” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The HEEHR Program provides rebates for the purchase and installation of appliances and building envelopes materials to reduce American homeowner energy bills. American households can save up to $14,000 on efficient upgrades that can lower energy bills and improve comfort and safety of the home. HEEHR offers rebates at point of sale either at retail outlets or through contractors. HEEHR can be utilized for insulation, air sealing, ventilation, electric wiring and load service center upgrades, electric heating and cooling upgrades, and efficient electric appliances. The HEEHR program is designed to ensure homeowner savings, emphasizing the importance of insulating and sealing the home prior to upgrading heating and cooling to maximize savings.” How to apply: naseo.org (individuals do not apply to this agency directly)U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), read 17 October 2026 |
| Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) | Amount not stated by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through state weatherization administrators (read 2026-10-17) Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “To apply for WAP assistance, first identify your state weatherization administrator and reach out to them.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “One of the primary factors affecting eligibility is income. Households at or below 200% of the poverty income guidelines or that receive Supplemental Security Income are considered under DOE guidelines as eligible for weatherization services. In addition, each state or territory may elect to use the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) eligibility criteria of 60% of state-median income.” How to apply: energy.govU.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through state weatherization administrators, read 17 October 2026 |
| Indiana Energy Saver Program (HOMES and HEAR) | Amount not stated by Indiana Office of Energy Development (read 2026-10-22) Status: open (source read 22 October 2026). “Applications for the Indiana Energy Saver Program are NOW OPEN!” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The Home Efficiency Rebate (HOMES) provides cost savings to both single family and multifamily residents, on whole-home retrofits achieving a minimum of 20% predicted energy savings. Eligible upgrades may include: insulation, air sealing, and ENERGY-STAR certified equipment such as HVAC systems and water heaters. About the Home Appliance Rebate Program The Home Appliance Rebate (HEAR) provides additional cost savings to low- and moderate-income households earning less than 150% of the Area Median Income for select, first-time upgrades. Eligible upgrades may include: heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, and electrical upgrades.” How to apply: in.govIndiana Office of Energy Development, read 22 October 2026 |
| Energy Saver North Carolina (HOMES and HEAR) | “up to $16,000 for home efficiency upgrades” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “DEQ launched the Energy Saver NC on January 16, 2025.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “Energy Saver North Carolina helps income-eligible homeowners and renters cover the cost of energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, such as heat pumps, electrical panels and insulation.” How to apply: deq.nc.govNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), State Energy Office, read 17 October 2026 |
| IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) | Amount not stated by Focus on Energy, for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (read 2026-10-17) Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “Both Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) are NOW AVAILABLE.” Pays for: “insulation and efficient heating/cooling equipment”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “Qualify for both IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs today! Eligibility and rebate amounts are based on household income. All homeowners are eligible to participate in HOMES. Low-income or moderate-income households can participate in HEAR.” How to apply: focusonenergy.comFocus on Energy, for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, read 17 October 2026 |
| Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program | “a maximum rebate of $14,000 per address” Status: open (source read 17 October 2026). “In New Mexico, the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program launched September 3, 2024.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “The program offers rebates for qualifying ENERGY STAR® certified electric appliances and energy-efficient upgrades. You can purchase multiple items at different times, with a maximum rebate of $14,000 per address. Please note, the program is being launched in phases, so not all products are available yet.” How to apply: clean.energy.nm.govNew Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), read 17 October 2026 |
| Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) | “$600 for natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boilers.” Status: ended (source read 17 October 2026). “You can claim the credit for improvements made through December 31, 2025.” Who it is for, in the agency's words: “If you make qualified energy-efficient improvements to your home after Jan. 1, 2023, you may qualify for a tax credit up to $3,200. You can claim the credit for improvements made through December 31, 2025.” How to apply: irs.gov (individuals do not apply to this agency directly)Internal Revenue Service (IRS), read 17 October 2026 |
Programs by state
| Indiana | Indiana Energy Saver Program (HOMES and HEAR) (open, as of 22 October 2026) “Applications for the Indiana Energy Saver Program are NOW OPEN!”Indiana Office of Energy Development — Sources read: 22 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | Energy Saver North Carolina (HOMES and HEAR) (open, as of 17 October 2026) “Beginning Sept. 1, 2026, all existing and new HEAR applications that have not yet reached rebate reservation status must comply with the new guidance.”North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, State Energy Office — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| New Mexico | Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program (open, as of 17 October 2026) “In New Mexico, the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program launched September 3, 2024.”New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Wisconsin | IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) (open, as of 17 October 2026) “Both Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) are NOW AVAILABLE.”Focus on Energy, for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Alabama | Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates Program (not launched, as of 17 October 2026) “This program is under development. The date in which eligible households will be able to access these rebates has not been determined.”Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Arkansas | Home Energy Rebates Program (not launched, as of 17 October 2026) “Currently, the Home Energy Rebates Program is not available in Arkansas.”Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Office of Energy — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Illinois | Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) and HEAR Rebate Program (not launched, as of 17 October 2026) “At this time, the Illinois EPA's IRA Section 50122 Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program, or HEAR Rebate Program, application has not yet been processed by USDOE or provided to Illinois EPA for administration or distribution.”Illinois EPA Office of Energy — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Home Energy Rebates Program (not launched, as of 17 October 2026) “ALERT: Please be aware that Kentucky Home Energy Rebates are not yet available.”Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Office of Energy Policy — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Missouri | Home Energy Rebates Program (HOMES and HEEHR) (not launched, as of 17 October 2026) “The rebates may not be made available until 2027 at the earliest and potentially as late as 2028.”Missouri Department of Natural Resources — Sources read: 17 October 2026 |
| Oregon | Oregon home energy rebate programs (not launched, as of 22 October 2026) “We don’t have a date for opening the Oregon home energy rebate program applications.”Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) — Sources read: 22 October 2026 |
HVAC rebate?
Indiana’s energy office lists heat pump HVAC systems among first-time HEAR upgrades for low- and moderate-income households. Its equipment list is specific to that offering; it does not establish a rebate for every furnace or air conditioner. The office describes the covered equipment this way:
“Eligible upgrades may include: heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, and electrical upgrades.”
The official Indiana Energy Saver application is the application route, rather than a contractor solicitation. Review that program’s household and equipment requirements before arranging work.
Source: Indiana Office of Energy Development (page title: OED: Home Energy Rebates), read .
For heat pump HVAC work, describe the equipment and installation scope in an InstaBids request.
HVAC rebate 2026?
For HVAC assistance through weatherization, DOE describes an assessment of the home and its equipment before a scope of work is recommended. This is an assistance process through local providers, rather than a published flat rebate for replacing any HVAC unit. The assessment includes:
“a blower-door test to determine the infiltration”
DOE also describes energy-bill analysis and inspection of energy equipment. Start with the state weatherization administrator, then follow the local provider’s application process.
DOE’s income guideline is 200% of the poverty income guidelines; the same passage allows states to elect a different listed criterion.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Weatherization Assistance Program, read .
For work identified during an energy assessment, an InstaBids request can carry the proposed equipment scope.
Federal HVAC rebate?
DOE’s HEEHR program includes electric heating and cooling upgrades among its covered categories. That equipment description is broader than a particular model’s eligibility; the state energy office supplies the applicable program status and household rules. DOE names the relevant equipment category as:
“electric heating and cooling upgrades”
Use the state table to distinguish a program taking applications from one still being developed. The federal description alone does not establish an application reservation.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (page label: State and Community Energy Programs), read ; Indiana Office of Energy Development (page title: OED: Home Energy Rebates), read ; Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Energy Division - the State Energy Office (adeca.alabama.gov), read .
For an electric heating and cooling project, use InstaBids to ask for written equipment bids.
HVAC rebate programs?
Renters considering an HVAC upgrade through Wisconsin’s IRA rebate programs have an additional property-permission step. Focus on Energy explains that the property owner must agree to the work, and equipment remains with the property even if the renter moves. Its condition is:
“any upgrades installed must stay with the property”
Discuss that condition with the property owner before choosing an equipment scope. The program’s household rules and assessment still determine which upgrade can proceed through the program.
Source: Focus on Energy (Wisconsin utilities program, read .
For a rental-property HVAC project, put the agreed equipment scope in your InstaBids request.
Tax rebate HVAC?
A tax rebate search can refer to the federal home improvement credit, which the IRS limits to improvements made through December 31, 2025. For earlier qualified energy property, the IRS form instructions also identify a manufacturer-record requirement. For property installed in 2025:
“a valid QMID must be reported”
That historical paperwork rule does not reopen the credit for a new installation. Use the IRS instructions for the applicable installation year and keep the rebate-program application separate from the tax-credit question.
Sources: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), read ; Internal Revenue Service (IRS), read .
For earlier HVAC equipment records, an InstaBids request can ask contractors to describe their installation paperwork.
Before you apply
- For weatherization applications, gather the prior year’s income records requested by the local provider.
- For Wisconsin HVAC projects under HOMES or HEAR, arrange the home energy assessment that identifies eligible upgrades.
- For North Carolina heat pump projects, review the insulation and air sealing requirements alongside the equipment scope.
Find the IRS rule for your home improvement
| Question to review | Project record | Agency document | Sources read: | Official rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer identification | Product records for the return | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Read the IRS form instructions | |
| Credit end date | Timing of the home improvement | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Read the IRS credit page |
Sources read:
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energy-efficient-home-improvement-credit, read 17 October 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5695, read 21 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy (page label: State and Community Energy Programs): https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/home-energy-rebates-program, read 17 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Weatherization Assistance Program: https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/wap/how-apply-weatherization-assistance, read 17 October 2026.
- Indiana Office of Energy Development (page title: OED: Home Energy Rebates): https://www.in.gov/oed/grants-and-funding-opportunities/homeowner-incentives, read 22 October 2026.
- North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), State Energy Office: https://www.deq.nc.gov/energy-climate/state-energy-office/energy-saver-north-carolina, read 17 October 2026.
- North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), State Energy Office: https://www.deq.nc.gov/energy-climate/state-energy-office/energy-saver-north-carolina/program-changes, read 17 October 2026.
- New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Energy Conservation and Management Division: https://clean.energy.nm.gov/programs/hear/, read 17 October 2026.
- Focus on Energy (Wisconsin utilities program: https://www.focusonenergy.com/home-energy-rebates, read 17 October 2026.
- Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Arkansas Energy Office: https://adeq.state.ar.us/energy/assistance/home-energy-rebates.aspx, read 17 October 2026.
- Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Office of Energy Policy (energyrebates.ky.gov): https://energyrebates.ky.gov/, read 17 October 2026.
- Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE): https://www.oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/Home-Energy-Rebates.aspx, read 22 October 2026.
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Energy Division - the State Energy Office (adeca.alabama.gov): https://adeca.alabama.gov/ira-rebates/, read 17 October 2026.
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Energy: https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/residential/energy-rebates.html, read 17 October 2026.
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Energy - the State Energy Office (dnr.mo.gov): https://dnr.mo.gov/energy/what-were-doing/inflation-reduction-act-home-energy-rebates-program, read 17 October 2026.