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Lower your bill · HVAC tune-up

Get your heating and cooling tuned up, with rebates covering most of it

A participating contractor services your central air, heat pump or furnace so it uses less energy and lasts longer. EmPOWER Maryland rebates cover most or all of the cost, and the contractor handles the paperwork.

See how to book Find every program I qualify for

For BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison and SMECO customers.

Example
Tune-up invoiceParticipating contractor
Cooling and heating tune-upContractor price
EmPOWER Maryland rebateMost or all
What you payLittle or nothing

Rebates cover most or all of the cost, and the contractor handles the paperwork. Amounts vary by utility and system; ask for the price after rebate before you book.

How it works

A service visit your utility already pays into

EmPOWER Maryland is funded by a small charge on every BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison and SMECO bill. One of the things it pays for is a professional tune-up of the equipment that uses the most energy in your home: the heating and cooling system.

A system that has not been serviced in a while works harder than it should, and that shows up on every bill. A tune-up puts it back in shape.

  1. Book with a participating contractor

    Find one on your utility's program page or ask the company you already use whether they participate in EmPOWER. Ask for the price after rebate before you confirm.

  2. The tune-up

    The technician cleans and inspects the system, checks refrigerant charge and airflow, tests the safety controls and electrical connections, and tells you what they found. Any repair is a separate, quoted decision.

  3. The rebate comes off the invoice

    The contractor applies the EmPOWER rebate and files the paperwork with your utility. You pay the difference, which for a standard tune-up is little or nothing.

Who qualifies

Homeowners with central heating or cooling in an EmPOWER territory

An account with an EmPOWER utility

BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison and SMECO customers pay the EmPOWER charge and qualify for the rebate. Each utility sets its own rebate amounts and rules, so check yours.

Central air, a heat pump or a furnace

The tune-up is for whole-home systems. Window units and space heaters are not covered. No income requirement.

Renters: ask your landlord

The system belongs to the property owner, so they need to agree to the visit. Many landlords say yes, because a tuned system breaks down less and lasts longer. Share this page with them.

When to do it

Before the season that works it hardest

Contractors book up once the first heat wave or cold snap hits. The quiet months before are when you get the appointment you want.

Spring

Before summer

Have the air conditioner or heat pump serviced in spring, before the first stretch of 90-degree days. Cooling is usually the biggest line on a Maryland summer electric bill.

Fall

Before winter

Have the furnace or heat pump serviced in fall, before the first freeze. A heating-season tune-up also includes the safety checks that matter most on a gas furnace.

How to book

Three ways to book. Start with your utility.

The rebate is the same whichever participating contractor you choose. Pick the route that is easiest for you. Utility Advisor receives no compensation for any referral on this page.

Direct route

Your utility's program page

Each utility's EmPOWER site lists the current tune-up rebate and the participating contractors in your area. Pick yours:

BGE · Pepco · Delmarva Power · Potomac Edison · SMECO

A contractor-matching service

Maryland Smart Energy

One option: a service that matches you with a participating HVAC contractor who applies the rebate and files the paperwork. Other participating contractors are listed on your utility's program page.

Get matched

The company you already use

Any participating HVAC contractor

You do not have to switch companies. Ask the HVAC contractor you already trust one question: "Do you participate in the EmPOWER Maryland tune-up program for my utility?" If yes, they can apply the rebate like anyone else.

If no, your utility's page lists the ones who do.

Ask before you book

  • ✓"Are you a participating EmPOWER contractor for my utility?"
  • ✓"What is the price after the rebate, and do you apply it on the invoice?"
  • ✓"What does the tune-up include, and what would be extra?"
  • ✓Get any recommended repair in writing before saying yes. A tune-up is not a commitment to replace anything.

Not the same as

  • A repair call. If the system is broken, that is a repair, quoted separately. The tune-up is maintenance on a working system.
  • A service contract. Some companies sell annual maintenance plans. You do not need one to get the EmPOWER rebate on a single tune-up.
  • A replacement pitch. EmPOWER also has rebates for high-efficiency equipment, but that is a separate decision you make on your own timeline.
Questions

What people ask us about the tune-up

Still unsure? Call (443) 222-1221 and a program volunteer will walk through it with you. Free, no sales pitch.

How much does the tune-up cost after the rebate?
It varies by utility, by system and by contractor. EmPOWER rebates cover most or all of a standard tune-up, and the contractor applies the rebate up front so you are not waiting on a check. Ask for the price after rebate before you book.
What does a tune-up actually include?
A participating contractor cleans and inspects the system, checks refrigerant charge and airflow, tests safety controls and electrical connections, and reports what they found. Repairs and part replacements are separate and should be quoted before any work is done.
Do I have to use a specific company?
No. Any HVAC contractor participating in your utility's EmPOWER program can perform the tune-up and apply the rebate. Your utility's program page lists them. Ask any company you call whether they participate.
I rent. Can I get a tune-up?
The heating and cooling system belongs to your landlord, so they need to agree to the visit. Many do, because a tuned system lasts longer. Share this page with them.
My system is old. Is a tune-up still worth it?
Usually, yes. A tune-up helps an older system run as efficiently as it can and catches problems early. If the contractor recommends a replacement, EmPOWER also offers rebates on high-efficiency equipment; your utility's program page has the current amounts.

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