top of page

Weatherization Contractors

Thank you for your interest in becoming a contractor for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP). This program is funded through the State and Federal governments to assist income-eligible customers in making their homes more energy efficient. 

​

The benefit of being an IHWAP Contractor is having guaranteed work for your crew. Some contractors choose to only take a job or two or month, while other contractors choose to dedicate a full-time crew. 

​

Weatherization is performed on single family homes, mobile homes, and multi-family complexes. 

​​​

Tazwood Community Services, Inc. provides weatherization for 5 counties in central Illinois: Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, McLean, and Livingston. Contractors can select the counties where they receive workorders and are NOT required to work in all counties. 

What is the process for receiving work in IHWAP?

When a home is ready to receive work, our staff will issue the workorder to the contractor through Iwx. This is a digital database we use through the State to track all weatherization work. All contractors will receive access to Iwx for submitting their workorders, photos, testing, and any other documentation necessary. 

 

You will contact the customer and complete a walk-through of the home to go over the workorder with the customer and order supplies needed to complete the job. Some jobs may require changes or pre-authorization, which you would get in advance during this step. Once all supplies and authorizations are received, you will contact the customer and complete the work on the home. You will upload photos of work completed into Iwx and testing requirement. After everything is finished, you will put your workorder in done status. 

​

Tazwood staff will then complete a final inspection of the work completed on the home. If there are any issues, a callback order will be issued to fix them. If the home is good, the final inspection will be marked complete and the project moved to fiscal for payment. 

 

Final payment is issued promptly. Tazwood cuts checks weekly for contractors. The quicker and more thoroughly contractors submit their work, the faster payment is processed. 

What type of contractors are needed for IHWAP? What type of work can I expect on my workorders?

HVAC

  • Furnace/boiler repairs and replacements

  • Central air conditioner repairs and replacements

  • Flue gas testing required on all combustion applicances

Plumbing

  • Water Heater repair/replacements 

  • Minor plumbing repairs

  • Sump pump

Insulation

  • Unfinished Attic Insulation - Open Blow

  • Finished Attic Insulation - Outside Ceiling Joists/Kneewalls

  • Crawlspace Insulation - Two Part Foam 2" 

  • Bandjoist Insulation - Two Part Foam 2"

  • Mobile Home Attic Insulation 

  • Mobile Home Belly repair and insulating 

Electrical

  • Replacement of knob & tube wiring when eligible

  • Minor electrical repairs

  • ASHRAE fan installation when electrician required

Roofing

  • Minor roof repairs when allowed by program

General Labor 

  • All air sealing work needed on the home to make it more energy efficient. This may include box in and replace attic hatches, whole house fan cover kit, caulking doors and windows, weatherstripping, drywall work, adjust sash locks, new locksets and deadbolts, replacing broken glass, etc. 

Refrigeration/Freezers/Stoves 

  • Replace refrigerators

  • Replace freezers

  • Replace gas stoves

  • Recycle existing units in accordance with Federal code

087fc0_5ca3c4a9525f33720fc8dd665f6badac.jpg

How much compensation is given for work completed?

Compensation for weatherization work performed by contractors is determined by the State Market Analysis conducted annually. 

​

The Market Analysis entails the price of labor and material paid based on the materials used to complete a task. For instance, when caulking a window the contractor will receive the labor and material price for 1/2 a tube of caulk. Other measures such as a furnace replacement are built into packages. 

​

The Market Analysis includes two different labor rate sets. There is a normal rate and then a prevailing wage rate. Contractors are only paid prevailing wage on non-owner occupied projects. Tazwood will work with you to help get you additional work for your business without losing revenue. 

​

Contractors should earn enough off their projects to cover their expenses with a fair profit. Further example of projects completed can be provided. 

Stack of Money with Coins

How do I become a contractor?

Becoming a contractor with Tazwood is fairly easy! We accept contractors into the program year-round. Every two years, we complete a full Request for Proposal (RFP) where more negotiations take place. The next RFP will be in the Fall of 2027.

​

There is paperwork that is required for all contractors. Then we need some documentation for your business. Once all of this is received, we will move into contract signing. After contract signing is complete, we can begin issuing work!​

​​

Contractor Paperwork

Important Program Documents

Stacked White Papers

Questions? Contact us!

Pekin Office: 309-266-9941

Peoria Office: 309-690-6500

Bloomington Office: 309-533-7723

​

Important Notice: The scheduling system utilized by Tazwood Community Services, Inc. may send out email and/or text reminders to customers for their upcoming appointment(s). Message and data rates may apply.  

​​​

This website is supported by CFDA 81.042, 93.568, 93.569 from the CSBG, LIHEAP, and IHWAP programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Energy. Neither the Department nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Energy. 

bottom of page