DOE Weatherization Assistance and Insulation: What's Covered

What WAP crews actually do

A WAP crew's visit typically starts with an energy audit of your home to identify where insulation, air leaks, and inefficient equipment are costing the most. From there, common work includes attic and wall insulation upgrades, air-sealing around penetrations and gaps (the same category of work covered in spray foam vs. fiberglass insulation), and repair or replacement of an unsafe or highly inefficient furnace or heating system when it's part of the underlying problem. It's a genuinely comprehensive weatherization service, not just a single insulation top-up.

Eligibility and how to apply

• Income: household at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (some states allow categorical eligibility through programs like SSI or TANF).
• Housing type: available to both homeowners and, in many cases, renters with landlord permission.
• Cost: free — this is a direct service, not a loan, rebate, or discount program.
• How to apply: through your state's local weatherization administrator, typically a Community Action Agency — find yours via energy.gov's WAP program page.
• Wait times vary significantly by area based on local funding and demand — apply as early as possible if you think you qualify.

Pro tip from our network contractors

If you don't think you qualify for WAP based on income, it's still worth checking your state and utility's other efficiency programs — many offer subsidized (if not entirely free) insulation and air-sealing assistance at higher income thresholds than WAP's federal cutoff.

If you don't qualify

WAP's income threshold means many homeowners won't qualify, and if that's your situation, the insulation and air-sealing work is still worth doing — just paid for directly or financed. See how to pay for home improvements for financing options, and our broader government home repair grants by state guide for other assistance programs beyond WAP that might apply to your situation.