Insulation, Air Sealing, and Windows: What WAP May Cover

Last updated: July 28, 2026

A drafty home does not automatically qualify for new windows. WAP looks at the whole house. An energy auditor may find that attic insulation, sealing hidden air leaks, repairing ductwork, or correcting unsafe ventilation will save more energy than replacing windows.

This guide explains what WAP may cover, how window decisions are made, who may qualify in 2026, what happens during the audit, and what to do if the home needs repairs before weatherization can begin. For a broader overview, see our complete Weatherization Assistance Program guide.

Quick WAP coverage answer

Insulation and air sealing

The U.S. Department of Energy describes WAP as a whole-house program. The goal is to reduce energy use while protecting the health and safety of the people living in the home. A local provider does not simply approve the item requested by the homeowner. It studies how the home loses heat or cooled air and chooses the measures that meet program rules.

Insulation that may be installed

Depending on the building, climate, existing materials, and audit results, WAP may install or improve insulation in:

• ✓ Attics and ceiling areas
• ✓ Exterior walls when the wall assembly can be treated safely
• ✓ Floors over unconditioned spaces
• ✓ Crawl spaces, basements, foundations, or rim joists
• ✓ Accessible ducts or pipes when the approved work scope calls for it

The crew may first repair small roof or wall leaks that would damage new insulation. A major roof failure, widespread water intrusion, or unsafe structure can be too large for standard WAP funds. In that situation, the provider may postpone the weatherization work and refer the household to another repair source.

Air sealing that may be completed

Air sealing is more than putting caulk around visible window trim. A blower door can help the auditor locate uncontrolled leakage through the building shell. Approved work may include sealing:

• Openings around plumbing, wiring, chimneys, vents, and recessed fixtures
• Attic bypasses and gaps at the tops of walls
• Cracks at rim joists, foundations, floors, and wall connections
• Leaks around window and exterior-door frames
• Accessible duct joints or returns
• Other openings identified during the audit

The work must not make the home unsafe. Tightening a house can change how combustion appliances draft and how moisture leaves the building. The provider may test furnaces, water heaters, gas appliances, and ventilation. It may install or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, add mechanical ventilation, or require another safety correction before finishing the work. The the EPA weatherization safety guide.

WAP window repair or replacement

Windows can be part of WAP, but they are not an automatic benefit. The Department of Energy’s approved whole-house measures include primary window and door repair or replacement, storm windows and doors, and certain films, screens, or awnings. The local provider still has to follow its state or tribal plan and document why the measure is allowed.

The three main tests for window work

1. The audit must identify a real need. Examples can include serious air leakage, a failed component, missing glass, water entry, or a condition that affects the weatherization plan.
2. The measure must meet program rules. The federal cost-effectiveness rule requires energy conservation measures or packages of measures to be cost-effective. A lower-cost repair, weatherstripping, air sealing, or storm window may be selected instead of full replacement.
3. The local plan and funding must allow it. WAP is administered by states, territories, tribes, and local agencies. Approved measures and available funds can differ by location.

This is why two households with similar-looking windows may receive different work. One home may need a sash repair and air sealing. Another may qualify for a storm window. A third may receive a replacement because the existing unit cannot be repaired and the audit supports replacement.

Why full replacement is less common

Full replacement windows can be expensive compared with the energy saved. In many homes, attic insulation and sealing large hidden leaks produce greater savings for each dollar spent. WAP therefore often repairs or improves existing windows instead of replacing every unit.

A cracked pane or water-damaged frame may still need attention. DOE health-and-safety guidance allows some repairs needed to control bulk water entry, but general window replacement and mold cleanup cannot simply be charged as health-and-safety work. Full replacement normally needs a separate energy-efficiency justification under the local plan.

Lead-safe work in older homes

Window work can disturb a large amount of painted surface. In homes built before 1978, the provider or contractor should follow applicable lead-safe rules. The EPA lead-safe renovation guide explains the certification and work-practice requirements for covered projects.

What type of assistance is WAP?

Owners and renters can apply. Rental properties need the owner’s permission. Multifamily owners may be asked to contribute toward some costs, and federal rental rules include protections intended to keep benefits with eligible tenants. A tenant should not agree to repay a landlord for WAP work without first speaking with the local agency.

Who may qualify in 2026

Federal WAP rules generally allow a household to qualify when income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. A household may also qualify through certain public-assistance categories, including Supplemental Security Income. A state or territory may use its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program rules, which can be as high as 60% of state median income. The local provider determines the rule used in your area.

The table below shows 200% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Local agencies may adopt the new limits on different dates, so ask which year’s table is in effect when you apply.

Federal poverty guidelines do not use the same table for every U.S. territory. Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands should ask the territorial provider which WAP income rule applies.

Meeting the income rule does not guarantee immediate service. Federal rules direct providers to give priority to households that include older adults, a person with a disability, or children, as well as high-energy users and households with a high energy burden. Local waitlists can be long.

Homes and residents that may be served

• ✓ Owner-occupied houses
• ✓ Rental houses and apartments with owner permission
• ✓ Manufactured and mobile homes when the local provider serves them
• ✓ Some multifamily buildings when federal occupancy and benefit rules are met

Manufactured-home owners should ask whether the local agency has trained crews and approved measures for their housing type. Our manufactured-home repair guide lists additional sources when WAP cannot address the repair.

How to apply

1. Find the correct local provider. Start with the Department of Energy’s official WAP application map. You can also search the Community Action Partnership agency locator, because many local WAP providers are community action agencies.
2. Ask whether intake is open. WAP is active nationally for Program Year 2026, but local agencies can pause applications, work through a waitlist, or limit intake by county or housing type.
3. Complete the local application. Follow the provider’s instructions. Applications may be online, by mail, by phone, or in person.
4. Submit income and occupancy documents. The agency verifies household members, income, residence, and ownership or rental status.
5. Wait for eligibility and priority review. An eligible household may be placed on a waiting list before an audit is scheduled.
6. Allow the audit and safety inspection. Do not start the proposed insulation or window work while the application is pending.

For help organizing the paperwork, use our home repair assistance document checklist.

Documents commonly requested

• Photo identification for the applicant
• Proof of income for each household member, such as pay stubs, pension statements, Social Security records, or benefit letters
• Recent utility bills or account information
• Proof that the applicant lives in the home
• Deed, tax record, mortgage statement, lease, or other ownership or rental document
• Landlord contact information and signed permission for a rental home
• Names, birth dates, and relationship information for household members
• Documentation of disability, age, or public-benefit participation when used for priority or categorical eligibility

What happens after you apply

If the household is selected for service, a trained auditor examines the home. The process may include utility-bill review, a blower-door test, insulation checks, appliance and combustion-safety testing, moisture inspection, and a review of windows, doors, ducts, and ventilation.

The auditor then prepares a work order. The household may receive some requested items, different measures, or no work on a particular item. The final scope must follow federal regulations, the grantee’s approved plan, and the local agency’s technical rules. The Department of Energy’s whole-house weatherization guidance lists the types of building-shell and health-and-safety measures that may be considered.

What the household should expect

• The provider explains the approved work and access needed.
• The agency’s crew or contractor completes the work.
• The home may be tested again to confirm air sealing and safe appliance operation.
• A final quality-control inspection checks whether the work meets program standards.
• The household should receive instructions for operating new ventilation or equipment.

WAP is not a remodeling program. It generally does not pay for cosmetic upgrades, premium finishes, a preferred window brand, room additions, or improvements chosen mainly to raise resale value.

Why homes may be deferred

A deferral means the agency cannot safely or effectively weatherize the home yet. It is not always a permanent denial. The provider should explain the condition that must be corrected before the home can be reconsidered.

Common deferral conditions

• Active roof leaks or major water intrusion
• Serious structural damage
• Unsafe electrical wiring or severe plumbing problems
• Extensive mold, sewage, or other biological hazards
• Asbestos or lead hazards that cannot be managed within the approved work scope
• Heavy pest infestation
• Clutter or access problems that prevent safe work
• An unsafe heating system that cannot be corrected with available funds
• Missing landlord permission, ownership disputes, or unclear occupancy
• Refusal of required ventilation or other safety measures

The Department of Energy created the Weatherization Readiness Fund to help grantees address some conditions that would otherwise block weatherization. Availability is local. It does not guarantee a new roof, structural rebuild, or full mold project.

Program status, deadlines, and funding

WAP remains an active federal program. On July 9, 2026, the Department of Energy published its Program Year 2026 grant guidance and 2026 grantee allocations.

There is no single national household application deadline. The state or local provider controls intake. Some agencies accept applications throughout the year; others open limited application periods, stop taking names when the waiting list is full, or prioritize emergency and high-burden households. Call the provider before sending documents.

There is also no national promise that each home receives a certain dollar amount. Published federal cost figures are program averages used for administration and planning, not a cash entitlement or personal spending limit.

Other repair help

WAP may not cover the repair, may have a long wait, or may defer the home. These alternatives are different types of assistance and have separate rules.

Check the Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebates program page before relying on a rebate. Not every state, territory, or tribe has launched every component, and local income, contractor, and pre-approval rules apply.

How to avoid scams and costly mistakes

• Do not pay an application fee for WAP.
• Do not sign contractor financing because someone says WAP will reimburse it later.
• Do not confuse a property-assessed clean energy assessment, home-improvement loan, or lease with a no-cost WAP service.
• Do not start insulation or window work before the agency approves the scope.
• Get the agency name, staff member’s name, and application number in writing.
• Ask whether a contractor is working for the WAP provider before allowing access to the home.
• Never give bank login credentials, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash to obtain a government weatherization benefit.

Three steps to take today

1. Find your local WAP provider through the official Department of Energy application map.
2. Call before applying and ask whether intake is open, which income rule is being used, whether your housing type is served, and how window requests are evaluated.
3. Prepare documents and describe the problem clearly. Note drafts, damaged glass, moisture, high bills, rooms that are difficult to heat or cool, and any health or safety concern. Let the auditor decide which measures qualify.

Frequently asked questions