The Best California HVAC Rebates in 2018-2019: An FAQ for Sacramento Homeowners

Posted by bellbros

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My family and I recently spent a lovely weekend in Lake Tahoe, hiking, fishing, and even a doing a little bit of mountain biking. For those of you who haven’t been, I really recommend it. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in our great state, but also straddles the border between California and Nevada. There are hiking trails where if you turn right you’re in one state, and left you’re in another.

Now, I know this is probably all in my head, but I just feel so much better when I’m on the California side. The air here just smells and tastes better to me. Weird, right? But, hear me out. After all, we do have lots of rebates for new energy-efficient HVAC systems that allow Californians to burn less energy at home, making our state an overall cleaner, healthier place to live.

I think it’s important for all California homeowners to know about these rebates because they not only keep our state clean, but they also help you save money. That’s why today I want to talk about some of the FAQs I get asked about for California HVAC rebates in 2018. Let’s get to it.

California HVAC Rebate FAQ #1: What Are the Best HVAC and Energy Efficiency Rebates and Loans in California?

Many people are surprised and delighted to learn that there are several incentive programs available in California. In fact, we’re one of the few states that offers some of these programs. The programs I’m especially passionate about include:

SMUD: This program offers loan financing on energy-efficient appliances, like HVAC systems, and rebates on nifty new fridges, washers and dryers, and heat pumps, to name a few.
HERO: HERO is a local government-approved program that offers up to 100% financing to homeowners looking to make water and energy-efficient home renovations, from installing solar panels to new HVAC systems.
Ygrene: Offering 100% financing with no money down, Ygrene is a great program for homeowners looking to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. The best part is that the balance gets tacked on to your property tax, so paying back the loan is super simple.
CalFIRST: What’s great about CalFIRST is that they pay upfront for energy-efficient upgrades for your home, with repayment plans between 5 and 30 years. CalFIRST requires that you work with a Renew Financial Registered Contractor, like the friendly folks at Bell Brothers, to do the work for your home upgrade. P.S. – Bell Brothers can also help you navigate the application process.
PACE: This public-private partnership offers loans for home upgrades that improve a home’s energy efficiency, much like the others. What’s unique about PACE, though, is that the loan balance stays with the home when you move.

To see which rebate or financing program your HVAC or home upgrade projects qualify for, check out their websites, or call up a knowledgeable contracting company like Bell Brothers and talk to them about the work you want done on your home. With their extensive knowledge and experience with these programs, they’ll be able to tell you which one would work best for you.

California HVAC Rebate FAQ # 2: What Upgrades and Appliances Can I Get Rebates for?

Each program is a little different when it comes to what particular energy-efficient home improvements they cover. If you’re looking for HVAC rebates in particular, SMUD and Ygrene may be your best options.

For the specifics on other types of energy-efficient home upgrades, either peruse the various websites or call up the folks at Bell Brothers and ask them. Like I said, they’ll hook you up with the best program for your specific project and your financial needs.

Here are just a few of the things that the various rebates cover:

California HVAC Rebate FAQ # 3: How Do I Qualify for an Incentive or Rebate Program?

All of the programs that I mentioned above require that you own the home you plan to upgrade. While each incentive and rebate program has different criteria they assess to see if you qualify, most of them actually don’t require a credit score assessment and are instead based on the equity of your home.

The good news is, there are so many different rebate and financing programs out there that if you don’t qualify for one, you could always try applying to another. Remember, if the application process is overwhelming to you, call up the folks at Bell Brothers to help you out. If you let them know what you’re looking for in an incentive program, they may be able to tell you what program you are most likely to qualify for.

California HVAC Rebate FAQ # 4: How Do I Apply for a California HVAC Rebate?

Most of the California HVAC and energy-efficient rebates and financing programs have an online application process. The processing time for most of the applications is pretty quick. Ygrene, for instance, let’s you know if you’ve been approved for financing within 30 minutes of submitting your online application. If you are more comfortable speaking to someone directly, though, some applications, like the one for CalFIRST, can be done over the phone.

Before you apply for any program, though, you should have a good idea about what kind of upgrades you want to do on your home—and what your home’s equity is.

Before you apply for any program, though, you should have a good idea about what kind of upgrades you want to do on your home—and what your home’s equity is. It’s also a good idea to have had a consultation with an experienced contractor to get an idea of how much the work will cost before you apply. That way, you’ll be well-equipped to fill out the application.

Contractors for Your California HVAC Rebates in 2018-2019

California homeowners are incredibly lucky to have all of these wonderful rebate programs available to help them afford to make energy-saving, environment-protecting home upgrades. While these programs have tried to streamline the application and approval process, it’s still great to have an experienced professional, like one of the contractors at Bell Brothers, guide you through all of the rebates and programs out there. They will also be the ones to call to get the actual work done, too. They’ll be sure to do a great job at maximizing energy and cost savings for you and your home.

Perhaps the thing I love most about helping folks navigate the wonderful world of HVAC rebates is that I feel like they really make a difference in our beautiful state of California—not just for homeowners, but for our local environment, too. With every energy-efficient upgrade I do, I swear that the air here smells and tastes just a little more pure. For me, it’s a powerful incentive to keep doing the work I love for this beautiful state we are so lucky to call home.

At Bell Brothers, our trained HVAC professionals would be happy to help you make your home more energy-efficient by helping you apply for an HVAC rebate and installing a new HVAC system. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Image courtesy Andy777

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