Masterhandyman

Listen Here! -- July 24, 2010
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Duct Cleaners

Our NADCA-Trained technicians use state-of-the-art power-vacuum trucks, on-board air compressors & custom cleaning tools to thoroughly clean & sanitize all the interior surfaces of your ductwork. See ducts cleaned with our duct cams.

►Website for more info

Toilets

Universal Plumbing Supply

Why settle for pictures when you can get a world of choice at Universal Plumbing? Choose from Michigan's largest selection of under mounted sinks, a display of 500 faucets and a huge collection of working toilets, vessles, tubs, spas & designer items.

►Website for more info

Windows

Independent Window Repair

Complete window reconditioning and replacement, huge inventory of hard to find window replacement parts plus highest quality interior and exterior painting.

►Website for more info

Hardwood Floor Care book

Nothing matches the warmth and style of a real wood floor. You can keep it looking great with Glenn Haege's Complete Hardwood Floor Care Guide. this book covers it all , from caring for new floors to cleaning, maintaining, and solving problems with your existing wood floors. It’s free!

►Download the guide here

Publication date: 11/17/2007

Click here for a printer-friendly version

Time is running out for 2007 energy tax credits

If you want an Energy Tax Credit (ETC), you'd better hurry. Dec. 31 is coming soon. The credits aren't huge. They average 10 percent of the product's cost, not installation.

However, if you are on the fence and are thinking about getting energy-saving products, you might as well do it now and get the tax deduction.

Here's a brief synopsis of the credits. Make certain the product has been rated by the manufacturer as qualified for the ETC, and get a copy of the manufacturer's certification for your records.

The cumulative tax credit for items marked with an "* " is $500 per homeowner.

ﾕ Energy Star rated exterior windows, skylights and storm windows: 10 percent of cost, up to $200*

ﾕ Exterior doors and storm doors: 10 percent of cost, up to $500*

ﾕ Energy Star rated metal roofing: 10 percent of cost, up to $500*

ﾕ Insulation: 10 percent of cost, up to $500*

ﾕ Central air conditioning, geo-thermal or air-source heat pump: $300*

ﾕ AFUE 95 or higher gas, oil or propane furnace or hot-water boiler: $150*

ﾕ Tankless water heater with energy factor of at least 0.8 and heat-pump water heaters with energy factor of at least 2.0: $300*

ﾕ Solar water heaters: 30 percent, up to $2,000

ﾕ Photovoltaic systems for solar-energy systems: 30 percent, up to $2,000

ﾕ Fuel cells: 30 percent, up to $1,000 per kW of power that can be produced

None of these credits is large enough to make you do something that isn't already on the radar screen. However, if you need a qualifying product, you might as well buy now and get the government to pick up part of the tab.

Many tankless water heaters don't qualify for tax credits. If you want one, make sure you choose a specialist and get the necessary forms before you buy. Two tankless installation specialists in our area are Hartford & Ratliff, (800) 466-3110, www.hartfordandrat liff.com; and Rooter MD, (800) ROOTER MD, www.rootermd.com.

The one energy tax credit that almost every homeowner reading this article should take advantage of is insulation.

The Department of Energy recommendation for attics in our area is R-49, but most homes have R-19 or less. The Michigan Uniform Energy Code only calls for R-30, which means that even a brand new house could use at least R-19 more insulation.

My editor at Master Handyman Press recently had Draft Stop Energy Savers, (866) 943-7238, www.draftstop.net, insulate her attic. Her 50-year-old attic went from almost nothing to more than R-50.

Bob Carey, the owner of Draft Stop, told me he believes that large parts of my editor's attic only had R-4 insulation. Can you imagine the difference this is going to make on her heating and cooling bills? On top of these savings, her energy tax credit will be around $300. If you have a larger house, your tax credit might be even higher.

Sam Vagnetti Jr. of Dana Energy Savers, (800) 757-3262, www.danaenergy.com, tells me that bringing attic insulation up to R-49 makes such a big difference that customers often call him back thinking his company has done something to their furnace. Furnaces that had been recycling constantly because of energy loss, suddenly only go on a couple of times an hour. There's nothing wrong; the house is no longer losing heat.

Vagnetti's father, Sam Vagnetti Sr., president of Dana Energy Savers, said, "When our company does both the attic and walls in an older home, the owners often save 50 to 55 percent on their energy bill."

"If people only have R-8 or R-11 in their attics, spraying loose-fill cellulose is like putting a blanket over the entire house. All the nooks and crevices in the attic are filled in. The heat stays in the house where it belongs instead of going up to the attic and causing snow melting and roof dams," he said.

Although both Dana Energy and Draft Stop use NuWool cellulose insulation for most residential applications, Dana also uses fiberglass and foam in some commercial and residential applications.

Many installation contractors specialize. Macomb Insulation, (586) 949-1414, specializes in Owens-Corning fiberglass. Retrofoam of Michigan, (866) 900-3626 and Seal Tech, (866) 775-3626, specialize in foam.

Each type of insulation has its strengths and weaknesses. As a homeowner, you get to choose. Whichever you choose you'll save tax dollars by doing it now, and you'll continue to save on heating and cooling for as long as you own your home.

Make the call, then brag about it.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.