These Valley residents can get up to $5,000 to replace old fireplaces and stoves. Here’s how
Residents can save thousands of dollars through a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District incentive program if they replace their home heating and cooling with an electric heat pump system.
The Valley Air District offers up to $5,000 through the Fireplace & Woodstove Change-Out Program to help reduce emissions from wood or pellet-burning stoves or fireplaces. These appliances emit particulate matter that worsens air pollution, according to the district.
Here’s how to receive a voucher, including how to apply and who is eligible, according to the district’s website:
How the voucher works
Residents can submit an application with all required documents for district approval to receive a voucher that would help cover the costs of removing and replacing old units. Existing gas and electric units are not eligible for the program.
Once approved, residents will need to present their voucher to a participating program retailer and purchase and install their new device. If not replacing the old unit, residents can also receive a voucher to help with costs to decommission their fireplace through a licensed contractor. You can find a list of participating retailers on the Valley Air District’s website.
The third step is to redeem the voucher by submitting a complete Claim for Payment Packet to the Valley Air District, and the district will reimburse the voucher amount.
Voucher applicants must purchase a new electric heat pump system from and have it installed by one of the approved retailers.
Only one voucher per address is allowed, according to the district. Residents must not make any non-refundable payments, disassemble their old device or install a new device until they receive a voucher.
The new device must remain installed at the device address for a minimum of three years, according to the district. Before and after photos are required.
How much do you qualify for?
The voucher amount residents can receive is based on the address of the old wood-burning device that will be replaced through the program, and whether the residential property is in an area that has access to piped natural gas, according to the district.
For residents in Kings, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus or Tulare counties with access to piped natural gas looking to replace their old systems with a natural gas insert or freestanding stove, up to $2,000 for equipment and $650 for installation costs is available.
Residents in these counties who want to replace with an electric heat pump are eligible for up to $3,500.
Residents who live in hot-spot counties with stricter residential wood-burning restrictions — Madera, Fresno, the Valley Air Basin portion of Kern County and the AB 617 Stockton Community — are eligible for up to $3,500 plus $650 for installation costs of a natural gas insert or freestanding stove or up to $5,000 for an electric heat pump system.
For houses without access to piped natural gas in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties or the Valley Air Basin portion of Kern County, up to $1,000 is available for residents looking to replace their old system with a certified wood or pellet insert or freestanding stove.
Up to $2,000 is available for natural gas insert or freestanding stove replacements plus $650 for installation costs.
Residents in these counties without access to natural piped gas can receive up to a $3,500 rebate if they replace their old device with an electric gas pump system.
Up to a $750 rebate is available for applicants who wish to only remove their old fireplace without replacing it with a new system.
Qualified low-income residents can receive an additional $1,500 for all eligible replacement costs.
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