80 AFUE Tax Credit Question

[allmil]

I received a quote on a new 5 ton 17 Seer Carrier Infinity System. The system quoted included an 80 AFUE furnace. I thought a system like this would not qualify for any Federal Tax Credit. I was told that it would still qualify for like a $300 Federal Tax Credit. How is this so? I have looked on the AFLI website and this 58CVA model is not listed. Could it be qualifying on the basis of the blower?

I have been told that there is no reason to upgrade to the 95 AFUE furnace. The 80 AFUE is sufficient for my climate in North Texas.

[jerryd_2008]

Go to Energy Star for the tax credit rules for HVAC at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#c3

Was that the AHRI directory search site? AHRI is the industry certification site. Make sure the contract tells you exactly why you would get a credit and also gives you some statement or certificate that covers you, all before you sign the proposal, of course. Yours might be vecause of the furnace motor, but not sure.

You might want to check the thread "No 5-Ton Split Systems Qualify for Tax Credit?" for more discussion on the 5-ton topic.

[sktn77a]

The furnace won't qualify for the 30% federal rebate. The only thing it might qualify is the high efficiency ECM motor (using less than 2% of the units total power use) but it's not clear how much this will be (it was $50 in 2007). However, the condenser and coil may qualify for the 30% rebate if the SEER is >16 and the EER is >13 (I'm not sure if any do).

[BaldLoonie]

If the cooling system qualifies, you'll be fine. But it is hard to find 5 tons that do. Check it out carefully.

[mark beiser]

The ECM blower in the furncace qualifies for a tax credit, but the contractor has to detail on his invoice how much of the cost of the furnace is the advanced blower. You would then be able to claim 30% of that.

[allmil]

Go to Energy Star for the tax credit rules for HVAC at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#c3

Was that the AHRI directory search site? AHRI is the industry certification site. Make sure the contract tells you exactly why you would get a credit and also gives you some statement or certificate that covers you, all before you sign the proposal, of course. Yours might be vecause of the furnace motor, but not sure.

You might want to check the thread "No 5-Ton Split Systems Qualify for Tax Credit?" for more discussion on the 5-ton topic.
Yes I meant the AHRI website,

http://www.ahrinet.org/ARI/util/showdoc.aspx?doc=1332

[allmil]

Does anyone have any thoughts on upgrading/not upgrading to a 95 AFUE Infinity furnace? This is in North Texas. Is it worth the cost to go from the 80 AFUE to the 95 AFUE in this climate? I am being told the 80 AFUE is fine and not being pushed the 95 AFUE at all.

[mark beiser]

Does anyone have any thoughts on upgrading/not upgrading to a 95 AFUE Infinity furnace? This is in North Texas. Is it worth the cost to go from the 80 AFUE to the 95 AFUE in this climate? I am being told the 80 AFUE is fine and not being pushed the 95 AFUE at all.

Usually it is not even remotely worth the difference in installed cost in our climate, because the payback would be >10 years.

However, it gets a bit more interesting with the tax credit situation now, especially if the AC equipment doesn't otherwise qualify.

If the AC doesn't qualify, you could still get the full $1500 tax credit by going with the 95% efficient furnace if the installing contractor itemizes it out as being at least $5000 of the total installed cost of the job.

That would really close the cost between 80% and 95% furnaces installed cost.

The only reservation I have with going with 95% furnaces is parts availability in the DFW area. Demand for high efficiency furnaces is very low in this part of the world, so a lot of distributors don't even carry the furnaces in their regular inventory, much less the parts specific to them, but I doubt that would be an issue with the Infinity furnaces, since it is Carriers flagship residential equipment line.

[jerryd_2008]

Does anyone have any thoughts on upgrading/not upgrading to a 95 AFUE Infinity furnace? This is in North Texas. Is it worth the cost to go from the 80 AFUE to the 95 AFUE in this climate? I am being told the 80 AFUE is fine and not being pushed the 95 AFUE at all.

I couldn't justify a 95% furnace in NW Arkansas on operating or up front costs. Adds some serious $$$$ and would add an ugly PVC pipe run in my finished garage space along with a dark brick wall penetration, again with ugly white PVC pipe.

Got an 80% VS, modulating furnace along with high SEER HP, or DFHP. There are some here, but not all, that believe that the 80% furnace with ECM motor is just another air handler required for the system and therefore the total system cost qualifies for the tax credit (there are other issues related to the 3rd party coil that are discussed in other threads). Obviously that's what I believe, since it was originally included on the AHRI certificate which I have in hand. Even if not, the HP alone probably exceeds the $5000 cost at 30% >= $1,500, the maximum tax credit.

[allmil]

I couldn't justify a 95% furnace in NW Arkansas on operating or up front costs. Adds some serious $$$$ and would add an ugly PVC pipe run in my finished garage space along with a dark brick wall penetration, again with ugly white PVC pipe.

Got an 80% VS, modulating furnace along with high SEER HP, or DFHP. There are some here, but not all, that believe that the 80% furnace with ECM motor is just another air handler required for the system and therefore the total system cost qualifies for the tax credit (there are other issues related to the 3rd party coil that are discussed in other threads). Obviously that's what I believe, since it was originally included on the AHRI certificate which I have in hand. Even if not, the HP alone probably exceeds the $5000 cost at 30% >= $1,500, the maximum tax credit.
Seems like this page below answers the question about the circulating fan/furnace qualifications. As others have already said, the dealer has to break out the cost of the ECM Blower (if it qualifies) with a furnace that doesn't qualify. How that is done, I don't know. I am dealing with a 5 ton unit so I can't take any Federal tax credit for the condenser - no matter what the SEER/EER.

http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5592&p_created=1236263253&p_sid=VhonSBsj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=5592&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9MSwxJnBfcHJvZHM9MCZwX2NhdHM9JnBfcHY9JnB fY3Y9JnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9NTU5Mg**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Can an "advanced main circulating fan" qualify for the tax credit if it comes with a furnace that does not qualify? What if the furnace is qualified, but the fan is not?

If the fan is qualified, but the furnace is not, you will not be able to take 30% off the cost of the entire furnace. Ask your HVAC contractor to break out the cost of the fan in your bill. You can get a 30% tax credit on the cost of the fan alone.


If the furnace is qualified, but the fan is not, you can still take the 30% tax credit on the full cost of the furnace.