Is Air Conditioning or Heating More Expensive?
As most people with a modern HVAC system know, heating and air conditioning equipment is now more capable of providing comprehensive relief throughout the year than ever. The cooling, heating, and indoor air quality benefits to consumers are evident, and the options for customization based on specific comfort preferences are many.
However, with this new technology there are also justified concerns about cost. Many homeowners find themselves not only regulating their HVAC usage, but limiting heating and AC power depending on various factors. Keep reading for the 3 biggest things that help determine whether your air conditioning or heating is more expensive, and remember to contact our Sarasota HVAC pros at Airrific Air Conditioning & Heating for all you home comfort needs.
Heating & AC Costs—Your Bills May be More or Less Expensive Based On:
- Location: To state the obvious, Florida is hot. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that in general, residents in this state spend more on AC than they do on heating. That said, it is important to note that running your heater in general tends to be more expensive than running your air conditioner. This is why even in parts of the country that get extremely cold in the winter, some homeowners will wait as long as possible to turn their heating system on full power. Again, it all comes down to location. In Florida, we have to worry about AC expenses a lot more than heating expenses—but that doesn’t mean that when we do have to use our heaters, it’s going to be cheap.
- Insulation: Home insulation is key to lowering both heating and cooling costs. Proper insulation keeps hot and cool air inside your house, and prevents you from wasting money on running your system only to have most of the energy leak out. While insulation does not necessarily make one function of your HVAC system more or less expensive than another, it does make both heating and air conditioning less expensive overall, so you should definitely consider having a professional install some if your home is lacking.
- Energy Efficiency: Increasing your home’s energy efficiency goes a long way to stabilizing heating and cooling costs. For instance, you may think the best way to operate your AC unit is to wait until you get home for the day, and then crank up the power as high as possible. This, however, will only make your air conditioning bill higher, as it forces your system to work harder to cool your house faster. A better option would be to set your thermostat a little higher, and run your AC at a reasonable 76-78 degrees on hot days—even when you are at work. While this may seem like a waste of money or not enough cooling power for Florida’s most humid periods, it will actually stabilize temperatures in your house, giving you the relief you need, without jacking up your energy bill. Similarly, you can end up spending an outrageous amount on heating costs by using old, outdated equipment rather than a modern, energy-efficient system. Fortunately, Airrific Air Conditioning and Heating participates in the Get Energy Smart Program and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program, so you always get energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and totally effective relief.
Airrific Air Conditioning and Heating Has the Equipment You Need
Again, while Floridians are always likely to spend more on AC than heating, you can end up with an unnecessarily high heating bill if you don’t have equipment that suits your home. Luckily, for heating and AC installation that’s guaranteed to improve your property, there’s Airrific Air Conditioning and Heating. Call today for available specials, and don’t hesitate to request a free estimate.
Need Air Conditioning Installation? Talk to your air conditioning repair experts at Airrific Air Conditioning & Heating today! Call (941) 371-3355.
