As the holidays approach and the days get colder, reliable all-day heating becomes a higher priority. Since hot chocolate and comfy Christmas sweaters can only go so far, that means leaning on your HVAC system to make sure you stay nice and cozy through the coldest months of the year. Unfortunately, unless you plan on staying warm by burning the coal Santa leaves in your stocking, you’re likely to see higher heating bills as the temperature gets lower. That can be a problem, especially since the holiday season is already one of the most expensive times of the year.
Luckily, heating your home on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice comfort. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do to make your HVAC system both more effective and more efficient, ensuring that you stay toasty all winter long while saving some cash on your monthly utility bills. Not sure where to start? Have no fear, we’re here to help you get started with some tips on how to bring out your inner Scrooge and save on your heating bills this winter.
Decoding HVAC Costs
To lower your HVAC costs, you must first understand your HVAC costs. In the broadest sense, heating and cooling costs can be split into three categories: installation, operation, and maintenance.
The cost of HVAC installation varies heavily between types of HVAC systems. Central AC installation typically costs between $4,000 and $8,000, depending on the unit and the HVAC contractor. The cost to install a furnace, meanwhile, can range between $500 to $1,000 for an electric furnace and $2,500 to $5,000 for a gas one. Ultimately, there’s not much you can do to reduce these expenses without sacrificing quality or incurring higher operational costs, so we recommend figuring out which system works best for you and biting the bullet on the installation prices.
The cost of operating your HVAC system depends on the unit, but you have a lot more control over these expenses. Part of it comes down to choosing the right system – a gas furnace, for example, generally costs a lot less to operate than an electric one – but keeping your HVAC units clean and well-maintained will go a long way towards keeping those utility bills low. Unless you’re expecting to find a high-efficiency mini-split heat pump under the tree this year, you probably want to focus on keeping your existing system in tip-top shape to save money.
When it comes to HVAC service and maintenance costs, the best way to save is to be proactive. The most significant AC and furnace repair expenses are usually going to involve fixing major problems that almost always could have been fixed earlier for less money. Spending a little cash here and there for regular tune-ups might seem like an unnecessary expense at times, but you’re going to be glad you did when your HVAC technician saves you hundreds of dollars by spotting a small issue before it grows. We recommend getting a professional tune-up for your heating system every year in the fall, and your cooling system in the spring.
Cost-Effective Solutions for Home Comfort
Now that we’ve covered how your HVAC system is costing you money, we can start saving you money. The first step to a cost-efficient heating and cooling system is picking out the right units. When selecting a furnace, you want to look at something called the AFUE rating, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher a furnace’s AFUE rating is, the more efficient it is. As a general rule, you want a furnace with an AFUE of at least 90%, although higher ratings will save you more money. The results can be significant – for the average household, switching from a furnace with an AFUE of 80% to one with a 90% AFUE will instantly cut their heating bills by 11%
The equivalent rating for air conditioners is SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Again, a higher number is better, so an AC unit with a higher SEER is going to be more efficient. Just to make things a little more confusing, SEER has recently been replaced with a similar calculation called SEER2, starting in 2023. However, the numbers are very comparable and the same general rules apply – the higher the SEER2 rating, the better. Even a small jump to a higher SEER2 rating can make a big difference – for a 3-ton AC, switching from a SEER 14 unit to a SEER2 18 unit can cut your cooling costs by 35%.
There are also new types of HVAC units that can be significantly more efficient than the standard ones. Ductless HVAC systems are becoming more popular because they avoid the efficiency loss that comes from even the most well-designed ducts, saving you a decent chunk of change. Modern ductless mini-split AC units can have SEER2 ratings in the 30s, while heat pumps can keep your home toasty all winter long without requiring expensive natural gas. If you’re thinking about making a change and installing a new HVAC system, we highly recommend talking to your HVAC contractor about some of the newer, more efficient units on the market today.
DIY Maintenance and Energy Savings
If you don’t feel like giving your HVAC units the heave-ho and starting over, there are still plenty of things you can do to save money on your energy bills. One of the simplest is to fiddle with your thermostat settings. According to the Department of Energy, turning the heat down by just one degree can cut about 3% of your power bill. That number stacks, so turning your thermostat down by five degrees will cut your power bill by 15% – something to keep in mind. A smart thermostat can also lead to pretty significant savings, with the average homeowner seeing an 8% reduction in their energy costs after installing a modern smart thermostat.
You can also save money by keeping your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. One of the most common mistakes people make is allowing their air filters to get dirty. On average, HVAC systems with clean filters are 5-15% more efficient than ones with dirty filters, so you might be wasting money without even knowing it. Dust or dirt in your vents can also block airflow, making the system less efficient, so make sure you’re regularly cleaning your vent covers as well. These numbers might sound small, but they certainly add up at the end of each month.
You can also save money by keeping your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. One of the most common mistakes people make is allowing their air filters to get dirty. On average, HVAC systems with clean filters are 5-15% more efficient than ones with dirty filters, so you might be wasting money without even knowing it. Dust or dirt in your vents can also block airflow, making the system less efficient, so make sure you’re regularly cleaning your vent covers as well. These numbers might sound small, but they certainly add up at the end of each month.
You can also save money by keeping your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. One of the most common mistakes people make is allowing their air filters to get dirty. On average, HVAC systems with clean filters are 5-15% more efficient than ones with dirty filters, so you might be wasting money without even knowing it. Dust or dirt in your vents can also block airflow, making the system less efficient, so make sure you’re regularly cleaning your vent covers as well. These numbers might sound small, but they certainly add up at the end of each month.
You can also save money by keeping your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. One of the most common mistakes people make is allowing their air filters to get dirty. On average, HVAC systems with clean filters are 5-15% more efficient than ones with dirty filters, so you might be wasting money without even knowing it. Dust or dirt in your vents can also block airflow, making the system less efficient, so make sure you’re regularly cleaning your vent covers as well. These numbers might sound small, but they certainly add up at the end of each month.
Conclusion
If you’re feeling less than jolly about your power bills this holiday season, then a more efficient HVAC system might be just the thing to put on your list. Whether you’re thinking about installing a new system or just planning on cleaning and tuning up the one you already have, it’s easier than you might think to reduce your heating bills, especially with the help of an HVAC professional.
If you’re looking for reliable HVAC service in Napa, Sonoma, Marin, or Lakes Counties, then Next Day Air & Heating is here for you. Contact us today through our website here or by giving us a call at (707) 281-2665.
