Home upgrades can be a fun way to reinvent and modernize your space. Many homeowners hire a general contractor to manage these projects. While you may give your contractor an initial budget, it’s not uncommon for things to cost more than originally expected. The last thing you want is to go way over budget. We also want you to save money. That’s why we offer rebates to help you make your home more energy efficient. We’ve put together a list of questions for you to ask your contractor to make sure you’re saving money and taking advantage of SRP’s rebates.
1. Ask if your contractor is properly licensed.
The first thing you should do when considering hiring a contractor is to ask if they’re licensed through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC), otherwise you’ll be ineligible for rebates. Visit AZ ROC to find a list of contractors and even check licenses, or easily find a participating contractor in SRP’s network.
2. Request quotes from 2–3 contractors.
Before bringing on a contractor for your project, always look around first. It’s not a bad idea to get quotes from some other contractors in your area. That way you can ensure you’re getting the best price and warranty possible for your energy efficiency improvements.
3. Check your contractor’s performance record with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
It’s always a good idea to do research and check reviews on your contractor to make sure they’re reliable. Do they have complaints? How do they take care of complaints? The BBB has resources for this and provides information on a contractor’s history, complaints, accreditation, public reviews and more.
4. Ask your contractor if the AC unit you are purchasing meets SRP’s rebate requirements.
New air-conditioning units can be pricey, but SRP offers rebates of up to $1,125 on select units. If you find yourself needing to buy a new AC unit, make sure it’s verified by the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of at least 16.0. AC units need to achieve this rating to be eligible for a rebate. Your contractor can explain the benefits of a higher SEER rating. You may find the more expensive units to be more affordable when you take long-term savings into consideration.
5. Ask your contractor if they provide a load calculation as a standard practice when sizing a cooling system for a home.
If you are purchasing a single-stage AC unit, you’ll need the sizing recommendation (Manual J) for your home from your contractor in order to qualify for an SRP rebate. Purchasing an AC unit with a tonnage amount that is more than what is needed for your home could actually cost you more money in the long term. This is because units that are too big for your home can lead to expensive energy bills and may cause “short cycling,” which will wear the unit out.
6. Ask your contractor if they offer the SRP rebate upfront as a discount off the invoice.
Contractors in SRP’s participating contractors’ network may or may not offer this option. Contractors outside this network cannot offer this until they apply to join the network.
7. Ask your contractor if they are familiar with SRP’s rebate programs.
Depending on your home upgrade project, you could be eligible for multiple rebates, including getting up to $1,125 back on a new energy-efficient AC, getting up to $600 off the cost to install new insulation, getting up to a $400 rebate when you have your home’s ducts tested and repaired, and getting $1 off per square foot of professionally installed shade screens or window film.
8. Ask your contractor if they provide assistance in completing the rebate information.
Get ahead of the rebate application process by determining roles and responsibilities for filing between yourself and your contractor.
That’s it! Use these questions to choose the best contractor and save money through SRP’s rebates on your home energy efficiency upgrades.