Southern Heat Pumps

SC rebates: in development · expected 2026

It doesn't make heat. It moves it.

A heat-pump water heater pulls warmth out of the air around it (the warm air in a Carolina garage, say) and pumps it into your water. The electricity runs a pump, not a heating element.

Check eligibility How it works

About two minutes. Not an application, and not approval.

Behind this text, a live heat map of a garage, solved from Fourier's heat equation. Your pointer is a heat pump's evaporator: it draws heat from the air, leaving a cool trail that slowly fades, and a copper line carries that heat into a tank that fills with hot water from the top down. A ledger shows electricity plus heat from the air equals heat into the water.

Rebate status · South Carolina HEAR

Not open yet. Expected in 2026.

The South Carolina Energy Office says HEAR rebates are not available yet and are expected to launch in 2026.

  1. 2022Congress funds HEAR through the Inflation Reduction Act.
  2. NowSouth Carolina builds its program.
  3. Expected 2026Rebates open to households.
Heat-pump water heater rebate
To be announced by the state
Who can qualify
Households under 150% of their county's area median income, per the state
Who runs it
South Carolina Energy Office
Last verified
September 26, 2026

Southern Heat Pumps is an independent local business, not a government agency. We can't approve rebates or reserve funds for anyone.

How it works

Heat, moved. Not made.

Everything the garage at the top of this page is doing, in three beats.

  1. 1Pull heat from the air.

    A fan draws air across a cold coil. Even air that feels cool holds plenty of heat, and the coil soaks it up. The air leaves a few degrees cooler, which is a small perk for a Carolina garage in July.

  2. 2Concentrate it.

    A compressor squeezes that gathered heat into a smaller, hotter package. It's the same trick your refrigerator uses to push heat out of its box, pointed the other way.

  3. 3Heat the water.

    The hot refrigerant flows through a coil wrapped around the tank and hands its heat to the water. Hot water rises, so the tank fills hottest at the top, right where your taps draw from.

electricity + heat from the air = heat in your water

Check eligibility

Prequalify in about two minutes.

Five short questions, and we'll tell you why we ask each one. It isn't an application (the state hasn't opened one yet), and it isn't approval.

  • No documents, no credit check.
  • Nothing is sent until the last step.
  • Prequalification is not approval.

What's your ZIP code?

Why we ask: HEAR is run state by state. Your ZIP tells us whether South Carolina's program applies, and whether you're in our Lexington-area service area.

FAQ

Straight answers.

Can I get the rebate today?

How much is the rebate for a heat-pump water heater?

Who qualifies?

The state says HEAR is for households with an annual income under 150% of the area median income for their county. Under the federal rules behind the program, households under 80% get the most help. The state will set the exact dollar limits, which depend on your county and how many people live in your home.

Is prequalifying the same as being approved?

No. Prequalifying is our quick read of your answers against what the state has published so far. Only the state can decide eligibility or approve a rebate.

Should I wait to replace my water heater?

If yours is failing, don't wait on a program that isn't open: no hot water is worse than no rebate. If it's working fine, prequalifying now means you'll be ready when the program opens. Either way, don't count on a rebate for work done before the state says the program is open.

Do I have to use a particular contractor?

Are you part of the government?

No. Southern Heat Pumps is an independent local business in Lexington, South Carolina. We're not the South Carolina Energy Office or any government agency, and we're not affiliated with them. For official program information, go to energy.sc.gov.

Will it work in my garage?

Often, yes. A heat-pump water heater needs plenty of air around it, and each model lists its own room-size and temperature requirements. Many Carolina garages stay warm much of the year, which it likes. We'll check your space, condensate drainage, and electrical at the consultation.

Does it cool the garage?

A little. The air it breathes out is cooler and drier than the air it takes in, which is a perk in summer. In winter it can make an unheated space a bit chillier, and most units have a backup electric element for cold spells or heavy demand.

What happens with my information?

We use it only to contact you about your request, and we don't sell it. This site sets no cookies and runs no trackers or analytics.

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Right here in Lexington.

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    Southern Heat Pumps is an independent local business. We're not a government agency, and we're not affiliated with the South Carolina Energy Office or the U.S. Department of Energy.

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