HVAC News: What Homeowners Need to Know Now

SEER to SEER2: Real-World Efficiency Standards Are Here
As of January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy introduced SEER2, a stricter efficiency rating that reflects actual usage conditions more accurately than the old SEER system.
- Northern states now require at least 13.4 SEER2, which is equivalent to the previous 14 SEER.
- Southeast and Southwest regions (including Florida) require 14.3 SEER2 for split systems under 45,000 BTU, with EER2 and HSPF2 rating adjustments depending on unit specifications.
The takeaway? Any repeat equipment installation must comply with these region-based SEER2 standards—or it won’t pass muster.

Federal Tax Credits: Act Now—or Miss Out
Originally, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 promised homeowners generous federal incentives for energy-efficient upgrades—extending credits through 2032. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of July 2025 changed that. Now, critical credits that include HVAC equipment come with a new expiration date: December 31, 2025.

What’s At Stake

Tax Credit Type	Covers	Original Expiration	New Deadline
Section 25C – Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit	Heat pumps, central ACs, furnaces (30% credit, up to $2,000 for heat pumps; $600 for AC/furnace)	Through 2032	Expires Dec 31, 2025
Section 25D – Residential Clean Energy Credit	Solar, geothermal, battery storage (30%)	Through 2035	Expires Dec 31, 2025

To qualify, the equipment must be installed and fully operational—“placed in service”—by the end of 2025. Starting this year, a manufacturer-issued Product Identification Number (PIN) is required to claim the credit.

Why These Changes Matter for You
- Don’t assume 2032 is still the target—the credit window closed early.
- Only systems meeting SEER2 standards installed before year-end will qualify for tax benefits.
- Keep all documentation—installation receipts, PINs, utility permits, and Form 5695—for your tax filing.
Smart Next Steps for Homeowners
1. Check efficiency compliance: Partner with your contractor to confirm that your equipment is SEER2-certified per DOE region standards.
2. Schedule promptly: Aim to have your system installed by mid-December 2025 to buffer against delays.
3. Track paperwork: Gather all manufacturer documentation, including PINs and invoices, to file IRS Form 5695.
4. Ask your HVAC provider: Make sure the equipment and installer meet federal standards and can provide all required documentation and guidance.

Final Word

Federal tax credits for HVAC equipment are expiring at the end of 2025—far sooner than originally planned under the IRA. Coupled with updated SEER2 mandates, this makes 2025 a critical year for homeowners looking to upgrade. Don’t delay—your savings (and compliance) depend on acting now.

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Based on 90 reviews

Fantastic service, communication, and people. 10 out of 10. Will definitely use them again.

Aaron Seifritz

105 days ago

Our A/C quit on us Friday evening. Since it was 4th of July weekend we gutted it out and called Blue Collar early Monday morning on the recommendation of a friend. By then it was 89° in the house! They said someone would be out between 10:00 and noon the same day. Brandon was on time and after looking and listening, he diagnosed what he thought was the problem in about five minutes and had the part in his van. In another 20 minutes he had the problem fixed. I really expected a guy to tell us we needed a new unit so this was a very pleasant surprise. I would highly recommend Blue Collar HVAC and I will be keeping their number handy for any future issues. Great job!

Carol Waddle

108 days ago

Brandon came out for a check on my system and was very professional and empathetic. He clearly explained what the issues were with my system and what my best options would be for replacement. He wasn't pushy or a hard salesman. Just a genuine kind man that wanted to see the best for me and my house. Keisha in his office is also amazing at keeping you up to date on the process and is prompt to call if anything changes.

Aaron

187 days ago

I had Blue Collar HVAC install a complete new system. They were very quick and did an outstanding job. Very competitive on price with name brand equipment. Cleaned everything up and you couldn't even tell they were ever there. Brandon and Christian were very professional and nice and I would use them again!

Marty Eaton

233 days ago

Called on Tuesday afternoon to get my HVAC serviced after the gas company red tagged it. They offered to come out that evening but I scheduled for Wednesday morning at 10AM. Brandon came out did a thorough inspection and had my furnace back up and running by 11AM! Great prices and very professional!

Kristopher Meek

253 days ago

Brandon came to give me a quote for a new HVAC system. He was very informative and knowledgeable. He never tried to sell me something I didn’t need like some other companies will. I highly recommend giving him a call.

Melvin114

287 days ago

UPDATE: We would have added a new review to up their clout, but Google won't let us. So...... We ended up having to invest in our UPSTAIRS unit almost a year after we invested in a new DOWNSTAIRS unit. Aaron and Christian were our team this time and were professional, respectful, super knowledgeable, meticulous and very forgiving with two rowdy dogs. :-) We decided to invest one day and they were here the very next day (less than 24 hours) to install the new system, on time and ready to work. It's worth noting that in the meantime, they worked diligently to flesh out our options with the manufacturer as well as what Blue Collar might be able to work out for us. They went to bat for us to make sure we received the best service from the manufacturer; especially when the manufacturer dropped the ball. Blue Collar HVAC consistently makes us feel genuinely cared for as customers. They were here about a 1/2 a day and we were chilled by that evening. We invested in the same manufacturer and SEER that made the old system. Amazingly, it works so much better than the old unit. (it was 6 years old) It blows harder through the vents and we can leave the thermostat 5 degrees higher than we had the old unit and still sleep well overnight. Aaron and Christian spent time testing the unit to make sure it was running properly and asked us to play around with the thermostat to see what temperature was most comfortable. We decided to invest in Blue Collar's Maintenance program. It offers 2 visits a year to maintain our units. They usually come out in the Spring and Winter. They offer a free year when you invest in a new system and then it's $99/system thereafter. This is a great perk! An area of improvement we experienced this time was around clean up. There were several pieces of debris/garbage around the pad that the new system sits on. If we could do this over again, we would have had a discussion beforehand about our expectations of cleaning up when they were finished. I might have suggested putting down a tarp to catch all the tiny pieces of debris so that they could roll it up at the end and dispose of it. We also want to mention that we spoke directly to Aaron about our concern today and he took full accountability and is addressing it with his partners at their next team meeting. They are implementing a checklist for each project going forward that will include "clean up" on the list. We could not have asked for a more appropriate response to our concern. Blue Collar HVAC continues to be an amazing small business and we highly recommend them! FANTASTIC company! Aaron and Brandon were/are amazing to work with. We recently moved into our house and one of our units was on borrowed time. It finally kicked it about 3 weeks ago. Aaron came out and did a thorough inspection of the unit and fully explained our options; including the most effective way to utilize our home warranty. BTW, they contract with home warranty companies too. Aaron and Brandon spent over 12 hours meticulously replacing our unit this week and making sure it worked perfectly. We are incredibly pleased with their workmanship, professionalism, knowledge, transparency and respect. In addition to installing our new unit, we’ve entered into a maintenance schedule with them as well. We called them about an issue with our other unit and they were here within an hour! We highly recommend them for your HVAC needs whether it’s residential or commercial. They do it all. Thank you Blue Collar! We are perfectly chilled in our home thanks to you guys.

Mrs. Simpson

385 days ago

Blue collar HVAC came out to check my cooling unit at 8:00 am on Wed. The damage to my coils was severe on a 20-year-old unit I decided to have them replace my heat and air system. Brandon, Aaron , and Christian came out around 7:45 on Friday with the new system to install. It is 12:30 and the team just left my new thermostat is set up my system is running everything is cleaned up they were so nice and so accommodating and very down to earth! They are a small locally owned business! I will know who I'm talking to when I call for them to come for a check-up before I switch over to Heating this winter! I like that in a business please support our local workers!!

Becky Teague

398 days ago

Coby and his crew replaced our air conditioning unit for us. He was able to diagnose our issue quickly and replace the unit the next day. I will use them in the future and recommend them to family/friends.

Zac Painter

431 days ago

Colby was great to work with! Very polite and friendly! I’m very happy with the job he and his assistant did for me!

Ann Noland

442 days ago

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