HVAC Upgrade ROI Calculator

Estimate payback period before you spend a dollar

BUILT BY A 10-YEAR HVAC INSTALLER

High-Efficiency System Upgrade

Compares your current system's efficiency to a new one, using your actual annual energy spend to estimate savings and payback time.

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Pull this from a year of utility bills, or estimate the HVAC portion of your energy bill.
SEER (cooling) or AFUE % ÷ 10 for a rough furnace comparison. Use the number from your unit's nameplate.
Use the rating on the quote you're considering.
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Estimated Payback
< 4 yrs 4–8 yrs 8+ yrs
Estimated annual savings$500
Savings over 10 years$5,000
Net position after 10 years−$4,000
Estimate only. Assumes energy use scales inversely with the efficiency rating and that both ratings use the same metric (both SEER, or both AFUE). Real savings depend on your climate, run-time hours, duct condition, and correct sizing/installation of the new equipment.

Insulation Improvement

Estimates savings from upgrading insulation in one area of the home (attic, walls, or crawlspace), based on how much of your total energy loss that area is typically responsible for.

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Typical rule of thumb: attics ~15–25%, walls ~10–20%, crawlspaces/floors ~10–15%. Adjust if you know your home better.
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Estimated Payback
< 4 yrs 4–8 yrs 8+ yrs
Estimated annual savings$0
Savings over 10 years$0
Net position after 10 years$0
Estimate only. Real savings depend on air sealing quality, climate, existing insulation condition, and how accurately the "share of energy loss" figure reflects your specific home.

Ductwork Sealing

Leaky ducts waste conditioned air before it ever reaches a room. This estimates savings from sealing based on your current leakage level.

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Unsealed residential ductwork commonly leaks 20–30% of conditioned air. A duct blower test gives an exact number.
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Estimated Payback
< 4 yrs 4–8 yrs 8+ yrs
Estimated annual savings$0
Savings over 10 years$0
Net position after 10 years$0
Estimate only. Assumes energy waste scales directly with the leakage percentage. Actual savings depend on duct location (conditioned vs. unconditioned space), insulation, and system runtime.
THE HONEST HVAC GUY — use your own utility bills for the most accurate numbers