HVAC PAYMENT OPTIONS
Paying for Your New System
Nobody budgets for an HVAC replacement. It shows up when the furnace quits in February, or the AC gives out during a heat wave, and the timing is never convenient.
Here's how we approach it: rebates first, financing second. Between ComEd and Nicor Gas, a well-specified system in Northern Illinois can come with a meaningful discount applied before you ever think about monthly payments. We'd rather reduce the number you're financing than sell you a longer term.
Simple Payment Methods
When the job is finished, you can pay by:
Cash
Straightforward payment when the work is complete.
Check
A simple option for completed installation or service work.
Credit card
Use a credit card for your finished project.
Debit card
Use your debit card at completion.
Rebates: Money Off Before You Finance
ComEd Instant Discounts - Up to $2,075
This is the big one, and there's no application to fill out. If your system qualifies and we install it, the discount comes off at installation.
ComEd restructured this program on March 1, 2026. Discounts are now tiered by heating tonnage, so system sizing affects what you receive.
Air Source and Centrally Ducted Mini-Split Heat Pumps
| System | Without Smart Thermostat | With ENERGY STAR Smart Thermostat |
|---|---|---|
| 15.2 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 8.1 HSPF2, under 2.5 tons | Up to $900 | Up to $975 |
| 15.2 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 8.1 HSPF2, 2.5 tons or more | Up to $1,400 | Up to $1,475 |
| 17 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 8.5 HSPF2, under 2.5 tons | Up to $1,500 | Up to $1,575 |
| 17 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 8.5 HSPF2, 2.5 tons or more | Up to $2,000 | Up to $2,075 |
Ductless and Mixed-Use Mini-Split Heat Pumps
| System | Without Smart Thermostat | With ENERGY STAR Smart Thermostat |
|---|---|---|
| 17 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 9 HSPF2, under 1.5 tons | Up to $500 | Up to $575 |
| 17 SEER2 / 9.4 EER2 / 9 HSPF2, 1.5 tons or more | Up to $1,000 | Up to $1,075 |
Tonnage is calculated from heating capacity: BTU per hour / 12,000 = heating tons.
Two things worth knowing. Equipment eligibility is verified through AHRI, so the specific indoor/outdoor combination matters, not just the outdoor unit. And ComEd requires the installing contractor to have completed their heat pump training program; since January 2025, participating companies must have 30% of installers and service technicians certified, and only those companies appear on ComEd's list. Compass Heating and Air Conditioning is on that list.
Bundling an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat adds $75 across every tier. On most jobs, that more than covers the thermostat.
Rebate amounts are subject to change under ComEd guidelines. We'll confirm current figures during your estimate.
Nicor Gas Rebates
If you're staying with gas heat or installing a dual-fuel system, Nicor Gas runs a separate program:
Improvement |
Rebate |
|---|---|
| High-efficiency furnace | Up to $500 |
| Combination boiler | $225 |
| Boiler | $150 |
| Water heater (tankless UEF ≥ .95 / tanked UEF ≥ .86) | $150 |
| Smart thermostat | $25 |
| Bonus: thermostat + furnace on the same application | Extra $25 |
| Air sealing and insulation | $100-$400 |
Furnace rebate amounts are set by AFUE rating, with qualifying equipment starting at 95% AFUE. Air sealing and insulation must be completed by a program-approved contractor.
Deadlines matter here. Equipment must be installed between January 1 and December 31, 2026, and your application is due within 90 days of installation or by January 31, 2027, whichever comes first. We'll handle the paperwork so nothing gets rejected on a technicality.
One useful quirk: if you already claimed a ComEd rebate on your smart thermostat, you may still qualify for the Nicor Gas thermostat rebate if you meet the other requirements.
Rebates before payment plans
Frequently, the financed amount is a lot smaller than people expect once the discounts come off.
About Federal Tax Credits
The federal 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit - up to $2,000 toward a qualifying heat pump - expired December 31, 2025. Systems installed in 2026 do not qualify. If your system was installed and placed in service on or before that date, ask your tax preparer about claiming it on your 2025 return.
You'll still find HVAC websites promising this credit through 2032. That information is outdated, and we'd rather you hear it from us now than discover it at tax time.
About Illinois HEAR Rebates
You may have read about Illinois rebates of up to $14,000 for heat pumps and electrification. The program has not launched. Illinois EPA has stated its HEAR application has not yet been processed by the U.S. Department of Energy or handed over for administration.
We'll let you know if that changes. In the meantime, ComEd and Nicor rebates are available today.
No retroactive rebates
Only program-approved projects completed after launch will be eligible, so installing now and applying later is not an option.
Income prioritization
Illinois plans to initially allocate 100% of HEAR funds to households below 80% of area median income.
DOE guidance update
A mid-2026 DOE guidance update narrowed HEAR nationally to exclude fuel switching, refocusing the program on upgrading existing electric equipment.
Financing Options
Synchrony Home Services Credit Card
We offer promotional financing through a Home Services credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. It's an unsecured revolving credit line, so it stays open for future work - a water heater, a plumbing repair, a second zone.
- Simple application, fast credit decisions
- Unsecured revolving credit line
- Open line for future purchases
- Convenient monthly payments
- Online account management
Applying online is quick, secure, and private.
Promotional financing through a Home Services credit card issued by Synchrony Bank.
Which plan makes sense?
Four promotional plans may be available if your application is approved. They work differently, and the right one depends on how quickly you can pay the balance down.
Plan 602
The lowest interest rate of the reduced-APR options, with the highest monthly payment. If you can carry the payment, this costs you the least overall.
Plan 604
A middle option - moderate rate, moderate payment.
Plan 600
This produces the smallest monthly payment of any plan. Be aware that's roughly eleven years, likely longer than the equipment's parts warranty, and you'll pay substantially more in total interest.
Plan 605
Fixed monthly payment of 2.50% of the highest promo balance. This is a deferred interest offer, not a 0% APR loan.
Read this part carefully.
Plan 605 is a deferred interest offer, not a 0% APR loan. If you pay the promotional balance in full within 18 months, you owe no interest. If any balance remains at the end of that window, interest is charged on the promotional purchase going back to the original purchase date, not just on the remaining balance.
Depending on your purchase amount and payment allocation, the required minimum payments may not pay the purchase off by the end of the promotional period.
Deferred interest is an excellent deal for someone who is confident they'll clear the balance in time. It becomes an expensive one for someone who doesn't. If you're unsure, one of the reduced-APR plans is the safer choice.
For all promotions: qualifying purchase must be made with your credit card issued by Synchrony Bank, and a $29 account activation fee applies, charged when the first purchase posts to your account. For new accounts, the purchase APR is 26.99%, and the minimum monthly interest charge is $2. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for applicable terms. Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases.
Monthly interest is charged on promo purchases from the purchase date for Plans 600, 604, and 602. Fixed monthly payments are rounded up to the next whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would otherwise be required.
Let's Run Your Numbers
Before you pick a payment plan, let us work out what your home actually needs, which ComEd tier your system lands in, and what Nicor will pay on the gas side. Frequently, the financed amount is a lot smaller than people expect once the discounts come off.
Free consultations. Emergency service available.
1051 E. Main St., Suite 106 - East Dundee, IL 60118
Serving Elgin, South Elgin, West Dundee, Carpentersville, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Barrington, Streamwood, Bartlett, St. Charles, Algonquin, and communities throughout the Greater Elgin, IL area.