Installer FAQs

Questions Pertaining to What/Who Qualifies for the Rebate:

Which types of furnaces or water heaters does the Rebate cover?

  • Any new propane water heater (storage or tankless)
  • Any new residential propane furnace (furnace must be at least 36,000 BTU and heat the whole home; propane furnaces with Heat Pumps attached do NOT qualify.)
  • Any new residential propane boiler (Boilers are considered furnaces and must be at least 36,000 BTU and heat the whole home)

Does my propane furnace or water heater have to be Energy Star certified to qualify for the Rebate?
No, Energy Star certification is not required for an appliance to qualify.

What does the Installer Incentive cover?
You receive a check for up to $700 check when you replace an old electric, natural gas, or fuel oil water heater and furnace with a new propane water heater and propane furnace, or when you install a new propane water heater and propane furnace in new construction.

Can I perform an installation in 2026 and qualify for the rebate even if the new propane water heater and/or furnace was purchased in a previous year?
Yes, installers can install appliance models from 2025 or earlier in 2026.

Is there a limit to how many installer checks I can claim?
No, there is no cap to the amount of checks an installer can claim in one year. 

Does warranty work qualify for the Rebate?
No, the unit needs to be a new purchase. Warranty work is a replacement of the original purchased unit and therefore does not qualify.

Can the rebate be combined with utility incentives or federal tax credits?
Yes, the rebate amount can be stacked with other utility, state, and federal incentives.

Questions Pertaining to Installation:

I installed new propane water heaters and furnaces earlier this year. Can I go back and submit applications for those installs?
Yes, you can submit any qualifying installs that were completed between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Applications must be filled out completely and postmarked, emailed, or faxed by December 31, 2026, 11:59 pm EST.

I replaced an old propane water heater and/or furnace for a customer with a new propane unit. Do I qualify for the Rebate?
No, installers only receive a rebate when replacing an old electric, fuel oil, or natural gas water heater or furnace with a new propane water heater or furnace.

I’m a licensed installer doing an installation in my own residence in Ohio. Do I get the installer and homeowner rebate if I install it myself?
No, if you’re the homeowner and a licensed installer, you will ONLY qualify for one rebate, NOT both the installer and homeowner rebate.

I am sub-contracted through a builder, but installed a propane water heater and/or furnace in the new home. Can I qualify for the Rebate?
For new-build homes, the builder or installer is eligible for the rebate, even if the work is subcontracted. However, it is up to the builder to decide who receives the check.

What qualifies as a “New Construction” when I install a new propane water heater and/or furnace?
For an install to qualify as a “New Construction,” there must be no prior water heater or furnace, and new line and/or new tank documentation must be provided with the completed application and the purchase receipt/invoice.

I installed a new propane water heater and/or furnace in a cabin in Ohio, but my customer’s primary residence is in a different state. Do my customer and I still qualify for the Rebate?
Yes, fill out section 3 with your customer’s primary address, but also make sure to include the installation address on the invoice.

Can the installer perform the Propane Safety Inspection (Section 5) that is required for the Rebate?
Yes, as long as you, the installer, are licensed in Ohio, you can complete Section 5 of the application and sign at the bottom, along with the homeowner’s signature.

Do I need to be a licensed installer to complete the Propane Safety Inspection (Section 5)?
Yes, you must be licensed by the state of Ohio to perform the Propane Safety Inspection (Section 5). If you are not licensed, then the homeowner’s propane company must come out and perform the Propane Safety Inspection.

My customer is installing two qualifying propane furnaces in a new construction. Can I qualify for two rebates?
Yes, you and your customer qualify for two rebates each, as long as the application and invoice clearly state that two furnaces were installed.

Questions Pertaining to Submission:

What is “Proof of a New Propane-Line or New Tank”?
This is a document that should be provided by your propane provider. Most often, this is a Propane Work Order that details trenching a new propane line from an existing propane tank to your new appliance. If this is a new build or the home is new to propane, the work order should also detail the installation of a new propane tank on the homeowner’s property. It is required for any new construction or fuel switch-out.

Is there a deadline for submitting my rebate application to receive my check?
Yes, your 2026 application must be postmarked, emailed, or faxed by December 31, 2026, 11:59 pm EST.

I installed a propane furnace/water heater in December and will not meet the December 31, 2026, 11:59 pm EST deadline. Can I still submit my 2026 application?
Yes, any installs on or after November 1, 2026, have until January 31, 2027, 11:59 pm EST to submit their completed 2026 rebate application. 2026 rebate checks will not be issued after January 31, 2027.

Is there a separate form that I need to fill out to receive the Installer Incentive?
No, if the homeowner qualifies for the new construction or fuel switch rebate, a check will be automatically issued to the installer listed in Section 3 of the application. The installer does not receive a check for propane-to-propane upgrade installations.

How soon will I receive my check after the application is submitted?
It may take 6-8 weeks from the time your application is processed and then approved before you receive a check by U.S. mail.

How soon do I need to cash my check after I receive it?
Any checks not cashed within 90 days will expire and will not be reissued.
Lost checks will also not be reissued.

Does the installer’s check get written to the installing company or to the person installing the unit?
The check is made out to the installing company. 

How do I send the application to the Ohio Propane Council?
You can fill out our online application, email, fax, or mail the application to the Council. Contact information needed for application submission is located at the bottom of page 2 of the application.