{
  "slug": "hvac-run-cost",
  "title": "Heating & Cooling Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "HVAC Running Cost Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hvac-run-cost",
  "summary": "Monthly heating or cooling cost by system type and efficiency.",
  "description": "A heat pump moving heat instead of making it can deliver three units of warmth per unit of electricity, which is why COP and SEER ratings dominate operating cost.",
  "formula": "Cost = BTU load ÷ efficiency rating × hours × energy price.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=hvac-run-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "btu",
      "label": "System capacity",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 36000,
      "unit": "BTU/hr",
      "min": 5000,
      "max": 200000
    },
    {
      "id": "system",
      "label": "System type",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "heatpump",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "ac",
          "label": "Central AC (SEER)"
        },
        {
          "value": "heatpump",
          "label": "Heat pump (HSPF)"
        },
        {
          "value": "electric",
          "label": "Electric resistance"
        },
        {
          "value": "gas",
          "label": "Gas furnace (AFUE)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "efficiency",
      "label": "Efficiency rating (SEER/HSPF/AFUE %)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 9,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 30
    },
    {
      "id": "hours",
      "label": "Runtime hours per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 24
    },
    {
      "id": "days",
      "label": "Days per month",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 30,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 31
    },
    {
      "id": "elecRate",
      "label": "Electricity rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.17,
      "unit": "$/kWh",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "gasRate",
      "label": "Gas rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.4,
      "unit": "$/therm",
      "min": 0.2,
      "max": 6
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "monthly",
      "label": "Monthly running cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "daily",
      "label": "Daily cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "season",
      "label": "5-month season cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perHour",
      "label": "Cost per runtime hour",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "unitsDay",
      "label": "Energy units used per day",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Annualized cost at this usage",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "System capacity: 36000 BTU/hr",
      "System type: Heat pump (HSPF)",
      "Efficiency rating (SEER/HSPF/AFUE %): 9",
      "Runtime hours per day: 8",
      "Days per month: 30",
      "Electricity rate: 0.17 $/kWh",
      "Gas rate: 1.4 $/therm"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Monthly running cost: $163.20",
      "Daily cost: $5.44",
      "5-month season cost: $816.00",
      "Cost per runtime hour: $0.68",
      "Energy units used per day: 32",
      "Annualized cost at this usage: $1,958.40"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter system capacity (BTU/hr).",
      "Enter system type.",
      "Enter efficiency rating (seer/hspf/afue %).",
      "Enter runtime hours per day.",
      "Enter days per month.",
      "Enter electricity rate ($/kWh).",
      "Enter gas rate ($/therm).",
      "Read your monthly running cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "btu": 22000,
        "system": "heatpump",
        "efficiency": 5.3999999999999995,
        "hours": 4.8,
        "days": 18,
        "elecRate": 0.10200000000000001,
        "gasRate": 0.84
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "btu": 36000,
        "system": "heatpump",
        "efficiency": 9,
        "hours": 8,
        "days": 30,
        "elecRate": 0.17,
        "gasRate": 1.4
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "btu": 58000,
        "system": "heatpump",
        "efficiency": 14.4,
        "hours": 12.8,
        "days": 31,
        "elecRate": 0.272,
        "gasRate": 2.2399999999999998
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the hvac running cost calculator work?",
      "a": "A heat pump moving heat instead of making it can deliver three units of warmth per unit of electricity, which is why COP and SEER ratings dominate operating cost. The underlying maths is: Cost = BTU load ÷ efficiency rating × hours × energy price."
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "7 values: system capacity, system type, efficiency rating (seer/hspf/afue %), runtime hours per day, days per month, electricity rate, and gas rate. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the monthly running cost result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a money amount in US dollars and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/electricity-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/btu-sizing",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/solar-savings"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Heating & Cooling Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hvac-run-cost)"
}