Rebates and tax credits in Washington

Money toward an HRV or ERV

Programs that pay toward the unit itself. Some take the money off at the distributor, so ask whether an installer’s price already includes it.

We didn’t find a program in Washington that names HRVs or ERVs. Your electric and gas utilities are still worth asking: search “[utility] HRV rebate” and “[utility] ERV rebate”.

Ventilation rebates that don’t name HRVs or ERVs

Usually ENERGY STAR bath or kitchen fans. Ask the program whether a balanced system qualifies before counting on it.

• Insulation and weatherization rebates: ventilation fan

  Puget Sound Energy (PSE) · PSE electric-heated homes only (site-built 1989 or earlier, or manufactured 2000 or earlier)

  $50 per unit, up to $100

  ENERGY STAR fan with a DC motor replacing a fan with no ventilation, a standard-efficiency fan, or an AC-motor ENERGY STAR fan. A PSE Trade Ally or Recommended Energy Professional must install it; the rebate is taken off the invoice. Tariffed, can change without notice. Fans only; the page mentions balanced ventilation only in general terms.

  Ventilation, not HRVs or ERVs by name

Federal home energy rebates

Federal money that Washington runs. HEAR has a category for “insulation, air sealing, and ventilation” worth up to $1,600 for households under 150% of area median income; each state decides what counts as ventilation. ENERGY STAR’s table for HEAR says this category requires ENERGY STAR certification, and ENERGY STAR’s U.S. criteria for ventilation cover fans, not HRVs or ERVs, so ask the program whether an HRV or ERV counts before relying on it. HOMES pays toward whole-home upgrades modeled to save energy.

Air sealing and insulation

These programs are more common than ventilation rebates, and sealing a house is often what makes it need planned fresh air. If a program is sealing yours, ask whether it requires ventilation afterward and whether it pays for it.

• Insulation and weatherization rebates

  Puget Sound Energy (PSE) · PSE residential electric or gas customers whose primary heat is PSE; single-family (4 units or fewer) and manufactured homes

  Attic $1.75 per sq ft up to $3,500 (R-11 or less to R-49) or $0.50 per sq ft up to $1,000 (R-12 to R-19); wall $2.50 per sq ft up to $5,000; floor $2.50 per sq ft up to $5,000; air sealing (attic or floor) $0.20 per sq ft up to $400 each; duct sealing and insulation up to $1,000

  Site-built homes built 1989 or earlier for attic, wall, floor and air sealing. Trade Ally or Recommended Energy Professional only; no self-install. Pays a ventilation fan rebate in electric-heated homes, but no rule requiring ventilation was found.

  Also pays toward ventilation

• Savings Within Reach (income-qualified insulation, southwest Washington)

  Energy Trust of Oregon · Clark, Klickitat and Skamania County homes heated with NW Natural gas

  Attic $1.50 per sq ft; wall $2.25 per sq ft; floor $2.00 per sq ft (single-family and attached), $1.25 manufactured homes

  Ventilation not mentioned in what we readProgram page: Page modified 2026-09-29

• Weatherization Assistance Program

  Washington State Department of Commerce, through local agencies · Statewide; households up to 200% of the federal poverty level, 60% of state median income, or 80% of AMI

  Free to eligible households. Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation that 'removes moisture from the kitchen and bathroom.'

  Also pays toward ventilationProgram page: Page shows 'June 16, 2026October 8, 2026' (dates run together)

State tax credits

We didn’t find a Washington tax credit for ventilation, air sealing or insulation, and couldn’t confirm there is none.

Low-income help

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program can pay for air sealing, insulation and, where needed, ventilation at no cost to households that qualify by income. In Washington it’s run by Washington State Department of Commerce, which funds local weatherization agencies listed by county; apply through your county's agency..

Before you sign

1. Don’t start work yet. Many programs need pre-approval, a participating contractor or a test first, and work begun early often can’t qualify.
2. Write down your electric and gas utilities. Rebates usually follow the utility, not the town.
3. Read the conditions: a listed contractor, a qualifying model, your heating fuel, income limits, and install and claim deadlines.
4. Ask each installer whether any discount is already in their price, and who files the paperwork.
5. Get it in writing: each rebate, who applies for it, and what happens to the price if it’s denied.

More on costs and how to check: What drives the cost of ventilation and How to compare quotes.

Worth knowing

• PSE's ventilation fan rebate is for an ENERGY STAR fan, not an HRV or ERV (wa4). No Washington utility was found that names HRVs or ERVs.
• Seattle City Light and Avista pages were not verified. A third-party site lists only heat pump rebates for them (homeenergybasics.com, August 22, 2026; not official) (wa6).
• State tax: the Department of Revenue was not checked, so state tax help is unknown.