Residential Clothes Washer

Rebate Information

Residential washing machine rebate up to $100.

Residential clothes washer rebates apply to washers installed in single-family homes and within individual units located in multifamily housing (e.g., condominiums, townhomes, apartments, etc.). Once approved, the rebate will be a credit on your water bill. For washers used in multifamily common area laundry rooms, please see our commercial washer rebate page.

Benefits of a High-Efficiency Washer

As clothes washing accounts for roughly one-fifth of your home's indoor water use, replacing your conventional clothes washer with a high-efficiency washer is a great way to save water and money! The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Energy Star Program rate washers by energy and water savings.

Depending on how old your existing washer is, high-efficiency washers use at least 35% less water and 20% less energy than conventional models. As the average American family washes about 300 loads of laundry each year, high-efficiency washers can save about 5,000 gallons of water per year. That's also 5,000 gallons of water that doesn't have to be heated, saving you money on energy costs!

In addition to the water, sewer, and energy-saving benefits, high-efficiency commercial washers also offer other advantages over standard models:

  • They use faster spin speeds to extract more water from clothes, reducing the drying time and dryer energy use
  • They use advanced wash systems to gently flip and spin clothes through a reduced stream of water and thus are more gentle on clothing
  • Without a bulky center agitator found in conventional washers, they have more usable space and can handle bulky items and larger load sizes
  • Front-loading models require significantly less detergent

Rebates

$100 if you replace an existing clothes washer with a new CEE Tier 2 or 3 listed washer or an Energy Star Most Efficient washer, which have an Integrated Water Factor of 3.2 or less. The Water Factor is the number of gallons of water needed for each cubic foot of laundry. The lower the Water Factor, the more water-efficient the washer.

Please note that CEE Tier 3 washers may also qualify for a rebate from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Check with PG&E to see what clothes washer rebates are currently available:

Qualifying Clothes Washers

  • High-efficiency clothes washers include both front-loading and advanced top-loading models.
  • For CEE-listed residential washers, visit the CEE website. Each listed washer has been assigned a tier rating based on its water and energy consumption. We offer rebates for only Tier 2 or 3 qualified washers only. Remember to look for ones that have an integrated water factor of 3.2 or less.
  • For Energy Star Most Efficient washers, visit the Energy Star website.
  • If you require assistance determining whether a particular high-efficiency clothes washer qualifies for a rebate, please call our Conservation Department at 831-475-8500.

Clothes Washer Rebate Eligibility

Complete rebate eligibility requirements are listed on the Clothes Washer Rebate Application (PDF). However, we still want you to be aware of the following:

  • Clothes washers must be installed and rebate applications must be postmarked within 90 days of the purchase date.
  • The maximum number of clothes washer rebates for residential customers is one per household every five years.
  • Clothes washers must be new. Resale or leased/rental option units do not qualify for the residential clothes washer rebate. (If you are a multifamily account holder and are purchasing, leasing or renting washers for a common area laundry room, please see our commercial washer rebate page.
  • Rebates are applied as a credit that will appear on a subsequent water bill. The account must be in good standing to receive credit. Upon closing an account, any rebate credit balance will be mailed to the account holder. Allow four weeks from the date of rebate approval for credit processing.
  • You will be issued a check in lieu of credit if:
    • Your Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) water service is in the name of your Home Owner's Association or Condominium Board and you are the legal property owner of your dwelling unit
    • You are the legal property owner (but not the account holder) and you purchased the rebated item(s) for your rental property
  • The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all rebate program participants receiving $600 or more per calendar year in rebates to be issued an IRS Form 1099 unless exemptions apply. If you have received rebates from SqCWD totaling $600 or more in the current calendar year, you must submit a completed IRS W-9 Form (PDF) with your rebate application to receive a rebate. The Social Security or Tax ID number requested in the rebate application process is in compliance with exemptions to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, 42 UCS 405 (c)(2)(c). Social Security numbers provided as part of the application process are held in confidence under terms of the Privacy Act and are not divulged or otherwise conveyed to individuals or organizations outside the SqCWD Rebate Program.

Water & Energy-Saving Clothes Washing Tips

  • Wash only full loads (but do not overload your machine). Wash smaller loads only when you have a small-load attachment or can select variable water levels.
  • Presoak or use the soak cycle when washing heavily soiled garments like a dirty soccer uniform. You will avoid having to re-wash the items.
  • Use hot water only when washing very dirty clothes, and always use cold water in the rinse cycle.
  • Use the correct amount of detergent. Excessive bubbles make your washer work harder and use more energy.

Source: Consumer Energy Center Website