Want to save money when buying a new HVAC system for your home? Then make sure you do not get fooled by the price.

It is understandable that people will try to save money by shopping around for the lowest priced item. When it comes to an HVAC system, though, how much you spend depends on much more than just the purchase price. Sometimes, the lowest-priced system can end up being the most expensive option when you consider the total lifetime costs.

The lifetime costs of an HVAC system represent everything that you pay to cool and heat your home. The price of the HVAC system is certainly part of that, but so are items like electricity bills and maintenance costs. Since an HVAC system is something that you’ll be using every day for years, these ongoing costs can often add up to more than you paid for the system itself.

The biggest factor to look at when considering lifetime costs is the energy efficiency of the HVAC system. Some systems require much less electricity or gas to do the same heating and cooling job. These higher efficiency HVAC systems typically have a higher price tag on day one, but more than make up for that over time via lower utility bills. Conversely, the cheapest HVAC systems are often priced so because they are not made with any energy-saving features. The money saved by purchasing the cheapest option will soon be spent on higher energy bills, and those higher bills will continue every month for years to come.

To save on lifetime costs, you need to look for higher efficiency ratings, such as AFUE for furnaces or SEER and HSPF for electric systems. With those ratings, you can get a pretty good idea of the lifetime costs for each system by using the Energy Star program’s Lifetime Cost Calculators for furnaces or air conditioners. For a more specific evaluation of your South Bay, Peninsula or Santa Cruz home, contact us at Valley Heating, Cooling and Electrical.

Visit our website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or just give us a call at 408-294-6290.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about lifetime costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Valley Heating, Cooling & Electrical services the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas in California.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!