Read this before you sign a window contract with anyone
BC rebates can take a real bite out of the cost of new windows. They can also vanish if you do the steps in the wrong order. Here's how mid-Island homeowners keep them.
What's available right now
BC has offered window and door rebates through BC Hydro, FortisBC and the provincial CleanBC programs. Names, amounts and rules change, so confirm the current details before you plan a project.
The program we check: the Home Renovation Rebate (HRR) program through Better Homes BC. It pays up to $100 per window or door, for up to 20 openings, so up to $2,000, when you replace exterior windows or doors with program-qualified products. Rebates count rough openings, not panes: a bay window with three sashes is one opening. The window and door rebate is the same whatever you heat with. Programs do change, so we confirm it is still current before you order.
Who usually qualifies
- Owners of existing homes in BC (not new construction)
- Replacement windows and doors that meet the program's minimum energy rating
Which windows count
Programs usually require a certified energy-performance rating (for example ENERGY STAR® or a maximum U-value) for our climate zone. Your installer should be able to show you the spec sheet for every unit. Ours lists each product's rating right on the quote, line by line.
The order of steps that protects your rebate
- Check eligibility before you sign anything. Some programs need pre-approval or an energy assessment before work starts.
- Get a quote that names qualifying products. Ours shows each product's rating and which items qualify.
- Install. Keep the invoice, product labels and spec sheets.
- Submit the claim before the deadline, with the documents we give you.
The four ways people lose their rebate
- Signing a contract before the required pre-approval or assessment
- Choosing a window that misses the energy rating by a hair
- Missing the claim deadline after the install
- An invoice that doesn't list product model numbers
We check all four for you. It's part of the free measure, and you keep the answer whether or not you hire us.
We serve Duncan, Ladysmith & Chemainus, Nanaimo and Parksville & Qualicum Beach.
FAQ
Common questions
How much is the BC window rebate?
Through the Home Renovation Rebate program you can get up to $100 per window or door, for up to 20 openings: up to $2,000. The windows have to be program-qualified products and the rebate counts rough openings, not panes. The window and door rebate is the same whatever you heat with. Programs change, so we confirm it is still current before you order.
Do all new windows qualify for a rebate?
No. Windows and doors usually have to meet a minimum energy-performance rating, and there are often rules about your heating type and how the work is done. When you want the rebate, we quote only products that qualify.
Do I apply before or after the install?
It depends on the program, and this is where people get burned. Some require pre-approval or an energy assessment before any work starts. Ask us before you sign anything, with us or with anyone else.
Who submits the rebate claim?
Usually you, the homeowner, with the invoice and product documents from the installer. We hand you everything the program asks for, in a folder, before we leave.