Central Air Conditioners

How They Work

Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system ducts. They are out of the way, quiet, convenient to operate and more efficient than room air conditioners.

A central air conditioner can be either a split system or a packaged system. In a split system, an outdoor cabinet contains the outdoor heat exchanger, fan and compressor, and an indoor cabinet contains the indoor heat exchanger and blower. In a packaged system, the heat exchangers, compressor, fan and blower are all located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on the roof or next to the house. Find more information about central air conditioners here.

What Assistance Is Available for Me?

There is funding to assist you with the purchase and installation of a central air conditioner:

The federal government offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the purchase and installation of a central air conditioner (maximum $600 credit). Find more information about federal tax credits for central air conditioners here.
The Duquesne Light Company Energy Efficiency Rebate Program provides a $150 rebate for each central air conditioner. Find more information about Duquesne Light’s central air conditioner rebate here.

What Products Are Eligible?

Federal tax credit: Split system must be ENERGY STAR certified with SEER2 rating greater than 16. All ENERGY STAR certified packaged system central air conditioners are eligible. Find eligible products here.
Duquesne Light rebate: Central air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 16.

Important Dates

The federal tax credits are available for products purchased and installed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032. Assistance through Duquesne Light’s rebate program ends May 31, 2026, or earlier if program funding is depleted.