Utility, Phone & Internet Help › Guide
Free Home Energy Upgrades Through Weatherization
The Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP, can pay for home repairs that cut energy use and make a home safer. It may cover insulation, air sealing, and heating system work.
Owners and renters can apply. The program is free, but local funds and wait times vary.
What does weatherization pay for?
A trained worker first checks the whole home. The local agency then picks the work that should save energy or fix a safety risk. Work may include:
- Attic, wall, floor, or pipe insulation
- Sealing cracks that leak air
- Heating or cooling system repair
- Water heater safety work
- Smoke or carbon monoxide alarms
- Some window, door, light, or appliance work
WAP is not a general home repair plan. It may not pay for a new roof, room update, or every old window. The home check sets the approved work.
Who may qualify for WAP?
Under the main federal rule, a home may qualify when household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
A state may also use a LIHEAP income path of up to 60% of state median income. A home with a person who gets SSI may also meet the federal income rule.
Your state can set steps within these rules. Use the current local form instead of an old income chart.
Who gets served first?
Local agencies must give priority to some homes when funds are short. This often includes:
- Older adults
- People with a disability
- Families with children
- Homes with high energy use or a high energy burden
Priority is not the same as approval. It can still take time for a crew to reach the home.
Can a renter apply?
Yes. A renter can apply, but the owner must agree before work starts. The program has rules to protect the renter and the public funds used on the building.
Tell the local agency that you rent when you first call. It can explain which owner form is needed.
What happens after you apply?
- The agency checks income and home facts.
- If eligible, the home goes on a local list.
- A trained worker checks energy and safety needs.
- The agency approves a set of work.
- A crew does the work and a final check follows.
Do not hire a contractor because a caller says WAP will pay you back. The local agency must approve the home and work first.
How do you apply?
Start with the Department of Energy's state weatherization finder. It will point you to the agency that serves your area.
Gather recent pay proof, benefit letters, a power bill, and facts about everyone in the home. A renter should also have the owner's contact details.
Applying is free. No one can sell a faster place on the list.
What other energy help should you check?
WAP improves the home. LIHEAP can help with a current heat or power bill. A household can use both if it meets each set of rules.
Read our LIHEAP guide. If water is the urgent bill, our water bill guide explains what remains after LIHWAP.
Run your numbers. The free Benefits Estimator shows the Lifeline and LIHEAP cut-offs for a home like yours in three questions. Nothing you type is saved. All calculators →