The State of Florida plans to distribute approximately $15 million on a first-come, first-served basis to Florida residents participating in the ENERGY STAR® Residential HVAC Rebate Program. Floridians can begin mailing in their applications after August 30, 2010. The program ends Friday, December 31, 2010, or when the funds are depleted. To qualify for this rebate, no purchase or installation may have occurred prior to August 30, 2010.
To help ensure that your ENERGY STAR heating and cooling system purchase qualifies for the $1,500 rebate, you should take the following steps:
1. Contact a licensed Florida HVAC installer:
- Tell the installer you wish to purchase a new central air conditioner, air source heat pump, or geothermal heat pump that qualifies for the Federal Energy Tax Credits program. We strongly encourage you to verify on this website that the proposed unit does indeed meet the standards.
- Also, tell the installer you wish to pursue Florida’s ENERGY STAR Residential HVAC rebate as well, which will involve inspecting and repairing your ducts before the duct test occurs.
- Ask your installer to look at your duct system and tell you whether they think your duct system could pass the duct test and the level of repairs needed. If they tell you there is serious leakage, and you do not want to make those repairs, then this program is not for you.
- Once you’ve decided on the new system to purchase and the sale and installation are complete, you need to receive the following from the Florida HVAC installer:
- The price and payment receipt with the purchase date, make and model clearly identified along with the name and address of company performing the installation.
- A copy of the mechanical building permit issued by either your county or city
- The summary (first page) of the ACCA Manual J program which is used to determine the optimal sized unit for your home. With air conditioners, bigger is not always better.
2. Home Duct Repair: There is a high probability that your home duct system will need to be repaired in order to meet the requirement of no more than 15 percent leakage (0.10 Qn.out) outside your home. You can pay your installer to make the repairs, or you can do it yourself. The most common areas needing repair are:
- The seal connecting the ducts to the unit (supply plenum)
- The seal connecting the ducts to the return system (return plenum)
- The seal between the vents and the ceiling
- Leaks in the ducting
In the past, the common method to seal ducts was with specialty tape. With Florida’s high humidity, tape loses its adhesion over time and leaks develop. Today, the common method to seal ducts is with tape covered by mastic. Another step that was not taken in the past was sealing the space between the air vents and the ceiling. If you have ceiling or canister lights, you may also be experiencing leakage there.
3. Duct Test:
- The following professionals may perform your duct test. You may find them in the yellow pages of the phone book, online, or ask your HVAC installer for a referral:
- A Florida Class 1 Rater
- A Florida licensed mechanical contractor that performs duct blaster and blower door tests, or
- A recognized test and balance agent (Note this is not the same as a business that cleans ducts.)
- The price to hire this service will range from $300 to $500. However, for that price they will tell you not only the amount of leakage your duct system is experiencing, but also other sources of energy loss in your home that you may choose to address in the future.
- The duct tester will schedule an appointment with you and perform the required tests. Thereafter, they will provide you with the results.
- Be sure to get a copy of the Air Distribution System Test Report from the tester as you will not qualify for the rebate without it.
- To qualify for this rebate your home must have no more than 15 percent leakage to the outside which is indicated on the Air Distribution System Test Report on line 5 with the score of 0.10 Qn.out or less.
- If your home indicates greater leakage, it will not qualify.
- If you must perform additional repairs and the duct tester has to return a second time, you will be charged the full amount for the second test. Therefore, it is recommended that your duct system is completely repaired before the first duct test is performed.
Mail in the Application and Required Forms. When all the work is complete:
- Fill out the application and attach the following four forms:
- A copy of the HVAC system price and payment receipt with the purchase date, make and model clearly identified
- A copy of the mechanical building permit issued by either your county or city
- A copy of the summary (first page) of the ACCA Manual J program
- A copy of the Air Distribution System Test Report
- Mail the completed application and the attached four forms to:
Florida Residential HVAC Rebate Program
PO Box 130008
El Paso, TX 88513
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