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Home > Tankless Water Heaters > Tankless Water Heater Tax Credit

Tankless Water Heater Tax Credit

Tax breaks, rebates and government incentives

Water heater tax credit and how to get $1500 tax break on Energy Star tankless water heaters, as the government tax incentives.

Tax credit for water heaters is the incentive program designed by the government for the energy efficient heating appliances to provide tax breaks for the consumers.

Before you buy a heater, keep in mind that many tankless water heaters are included in this tax credit program together with the renewable energy systems, and that means saving money for you, saving energy and protecting the environment.

Who is eligible for Tankless Water Heater Tax Credit

In general, 3 types of heaters are covered by the government tax credits as the incentive to buy appliances that are energy efficient:

Gas (Natural gas and Propane) and Oil heaters
Electric heat pump water heaters
Solar water heaters

Excluded from the government grants are electric tank and electric tankless water heaters. Some manufacturers claim that their heaters are Energy Star recognized and therefore, eligible for the water heater tax credit, but you should always confirm. These models are actually suitable for most electric utility rebate programs.

water heater tax credit for energy star appliances

If you live in US and Canada, you may be eligible to receive the rebate on tankless water heaters when you buy Energy Star qualified units. You can buy Bosch, Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi, AO Smith, Rheem... all of them are manufacturers of on demand appliances and have models which are Energy Star qualified.

US and Canada government encourages all the consumers to replace their old, low efficient appliances with today's modern high efficient heaters and therefore, be able to apply for the water heater tax credit.

Keep in mind that most of the residential tank type water heaters will not qualify for the tax credit, but there are some commercial that are eligible for tax breaks and rebates. Check if the EF or energy factor is 0.82 or higher, thermal efficiency is at least 90%, or simply check for the blue label with the Energy Star logo.

How to claim for your water heater tax credit

If you have purchased your high efficiency, Energy Star tankless heater in 2009, you might be eligible for government grants, so complete and send your application by April 15, 2010. US citizens will use the form 5695 and fill out the residential energy tax credit line.
Provide the receipt, Manufacturer Certification Statement (it shows that the product qualifies for the tax credit) and installation costs.

Water heater tax credit is not an instant rebate; it has to be claimed on your federal income tax at the end of the year. This water heater credit then increases the tax refund you will receive or decreases the amount you have to pay.

You could be eligible for 30% in tax credits but up to a total credit of $1,500 and for your existing home only. The heater must be installed and be able to use by December 31, 2009, for example, so you can apply.

$1,500 is the maximum amount of the incentive you can get from the government, and it applies for the two-year period of time for the heater purchase and for the installation costs. If you have received the grant in 2009 already, you are not eligible for the tax break in 2010.

For solar heaters, unit must be installed and ready to use by December 31, 2016. It is applicable to the new and existing homes and the requirement is that at least half of the energy must come from the sun and applied for water heating, but not swimming pools and hot tubs.

The maximum of $1500 does not apply to solar water heaters, but they are eligible for 30% tax credit and with no upper limit.

What else you can do to save the energy on water heating

We use hot water on shower, to clean the dishes, to clean the clothes, for shaving... but the question is, where we can save on hot water. Per study done in US, we spend between $400 and $600 on water heating, making it the second largest energy expenditure.

It is up to you are you going to use the tank type or tankless water heater, for example. If you buy tankless, high efficiency or condensing water heater you can save significantly on the energy usage.

In both cases, you can save if you follow the certain rules:

Set the thermostat for the outgoing temperature 120 F.
Put the insulation blanket or jacket on your tank type heater, to reduce the standby heat loss.
Insulate the piping.
Turn the unit off when you are away.

Take shorter showers and install low flow shower head, instead filling the full bath with hot water.

To check about the approved energy efficiency appliance rebate programs, including the water heater tax credit, for any US state and for 2010, follow the link to the official US Department of Energy here.

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