(WXYZ) - It's been a long time coming, but starting February 10th, the so-called Cash for Appliances Program gets underway here in Michigan. The big difference between this program and last year's successful Cash for Clunkers program is that you don't have to turn in an old appliance to qualify for a rebate. You just need to buy one of many new qualifying appliances. And rebates vary depending on what you buy.
Appliance sales have taken a hit like everything else in this economy, but they’e likely in for a boost with Cash for Appliances, officially known as the Appliance Rebate Program, which is set to start February 10th. Buy an appliance and get cash back!
We caught up with Minnie Dunn shopping for appliances at ABC Warehouse.
"Wow, I could deal with that," Dunn said.
Her current appliances are pretty old, so she's shopping for a new washer and dryer. She's got some questions about this rebate plan.
How much are they giving back?Anywhere from $25 to $300 dollars depending on what you buy. Sure, you've heard of Energy Star but you'll need to start thinking about words you've probably never heard before, like Tier 1, 2 or 3 appliances.
Buy a so-called Tier 3 clothes washer, and you’ll get a $50 rebate check.
An Energy Star refrigerator, $50, a Tier 3 refrigerator, $100.
Energy Star and Tier Two dishwashers will put $25 and $50 dollars back in your pocket.
A propane water heater qualifies for $100.
The big rebates, $300 dollars, come if you buy a propane or oil furnace.
Buy a solar water heater and you’ll get 20% back, up to $1200.
Come February 10th, you’ll be able to find a complete list of the names and model numbers of qualifying appliances, and retailers will certainly be happy to help.
"We'll actually have a website available in the store if they’d like to look it up while they’re in the store and they can see what qualifies," Tom Brillati from ABC Warehouse says.
Also, once the program is running, you’ll be able to go to a website where you can reserve your rebate. It’ll give you an application to print off. Then you have 14 days to buy a new, qualifying appliance and send in the application and the receipt.
You don’t have to reserve your rebate, but doing so guarantees the money will be there for you. There’s about nine million dollars allocated.
What do you do with your old appliance?Well, that’s up to you. If the appliance is working, you can donate it.
Habitat for Humanity Restore for example will pick it up and put it through a 15-point inspection. They fix whatever needs to be fixed and then sell the appliance at an incredible price to someone who needs it.
Can't afford a new appliance?Let’s just say you’d love to buy a new appliance, maybe you’re even having some trouble with your old one, but you simply can’t afford it. Don’t forget about the great resource www.repairclinic.com, a company based in Canton that offers free repair advice.
"I think the biggest misconception is people feel they can’t do it themselves. We help people by giving free repair help, how to repair the appliance, how to install the part. We help make it easier for people to repair that appliance themselves," says Chris Hall, president of repairclinic.com.
Buying a new one?But if you want a new appliance, the program starts February 10th, and it's not retroactive, meaning if you buy a new appliance before then, you're not eligible for the rebate.
Keep in mind these rebates are in addition to rebates DTE, MichCon and Consumers Energy offer when you buy certain qualifying appliances. You can learn more about those as well by clicking on the link below.
Click her for more information about the the state's Appliance Rebate Program.
*Remember, more information will be available on the state's website, including qualifying appliances, starting February 10th.
