Home Comfort Math helps U.S. homeowners answer three questions before they spend money on heating, cooling or power: how much will it cost, how much will I save, and is it worth it?
Why this site exists
Replacing an air conditioner, a furnace or a water heater is one of the most expensive decisions a homeowner makes, and it usually happens in a hurry. Most quotes tell you the price of the equipment. Very few show you what it will cost to run, how long it takes to pay for itself or how it compares with the alternatives. We built Home Comfort Math to do that math in the open, with the numbers and assumptions on the page so you can check them and plug in your own.
Who runs it
Home Comfort Math is run by a mechanical engineering student. Heat transfer, thermodynamics and energy balances are part of the coursework, and this site applies them to the questions homeowners actually ask: BTU sizing, efficiency ratings such as SEER2, HSPF2 and AFUE, fuel costs and payback periods.
Articles are published under the Home Comfort Math Editorial Team byline. We are not a licensed HVAC contractor, electrician, plumber or tax advisor, and we will never claim credentials we do not have. When a licensed professional reviews an article, their name and license will appear on that page.
What you will find here
- Cost guides for air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, water heaters, solar panels, home batteries and generators
- Calculators for sizing, monthly running costs and payback
- Side-by-side comparisons with a clear verdict: who should buy, who should skip
- Energy bill data by state, and the rebates and incentives that still exist
How we make money
Home Comfort Math is free to read. We earn money from display advertising and, in some articles, from affiliate links that may pay us a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Advertisers and affiliate partners have no say in our numbers or our verdicts. You can read more in our Affiliate Disclosure.
How we research
Our prices and rates come from public, verifiable sources such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ENERGY STAR, the Department of Energy and AHRI, and every figure is dated. Our full methodology is on the How We Research page.
Get in touch
Spotted an error, or have a question we should answer? Email us at contact@homecomfortmath.com or use the contact page.