Your electric or gas bill just jumped and nothing else changed. Almost always HVAC.
You probably came here because…
- Electric or gas bill 30%+ higher than the same month last year
- House feels the same, no new appliances, no lifestyle changes
- Utility company confirms usage went up (not a billing error)
- You may notice the HVAC running longer than it used to
What’s actually happening
HVAC is 40-60% of most home energy bills. A small efficiency drop in the HVAC shows up as a big dollar increase.
Top causes of sudden spikes: emergency heat/aux heat stuck on (huge one – electric resistance strips are brutal), refrigerant loss reducing efficiency, dirty coils or filter making the system work twice as hard, a leaking duct dumping conditioned air into an attic or crawlspace, or a thermostat that's malfunctioning and running constantly.
If your bill spiked in winter with a heat pump, emergency heat is your first suspect. If it spiked in summer, it's usually refrigerant or airflow.
What we do about it
Check for Emergency Heat / Aux Heat
On the thermostat display, is Emergency Heat, Aux Heat, or a red icon showing? Someone might have hit the button and never turned it off. That alone can double a winter bill.
Change the filter
A restricted filter forces the blower to work harder and the coil to run colder in cooling / hotter in heating. Restore airflow and see if the bill drops next cycle.
Check duct joints in unconditioned space
In your attic or crawlspace, look for obvious disconnected ducts, torn insulation, or loose joints. A duct dumping air into a hot attic can add hundreds a year.
When to just call
If bill spiked hard and you can't find an obvious cause, call (423) 637-1846. We do energy audits that pay for themselves – one duct repair, one refrigerant leak fix, or one thermostat calibration can drop a bill by 20-30%.
Ready to fix it?
Call the family that’s been doing this in the Sequatchie Valley since 1996.