Why Is My Heating Bill So High? Common Causes and Fixes

If your heating bill suddenly jumps, a number of factors may be to blame. Unusually cold weather can lead to higher heating bills. However, if the weather and utility rates haven’t changed significantly, an unexpected increase in your heating bill may indicate changes in household energy usage or HVAC performance.

A sudden increase in your heating bill may mean that something is wrong with your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. If you suspect an HVAC-related issue, Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can perform full diagnostics on your system and determine the best solution for your situation.

Why is my heating bill so high? Is my heating system to blame? To determine why your energy bills may have gone up unexpectedly, read on.

Quick Answer Before Blaming the Furnace or Heat Pump

If you suddenly have a high gas bill, heating may be just one potential cause. Higher energy costs can be due to changes in your utility rate, the number of days in the month, and usage. If the utility provider made any corrections to your previous bill, this can also be reflected on your current bill. An HVAC problem is merely one cause for higher costs.

To determine why your bill has increased, you should first read through your bill. Compare your current usage to the last month and the same month last year. You should also consider any household changes or differences in your usage. If you have eliminated other possibilities, you should reach out to our Comfort Specialists for a full HVAC evaluation.

Read the Bill and Make a Fair Comparison

Before you start considering why a higher bill may occur, the first step is determining if there is actually a problem. Start by checking the following information in your bill.

• Billed Dates and Number of Days: Note when you were billed and the number of days in the cycle. While the weather and demand play a major role, a longer bill cycle can contribute to higher energy costs.
• Actual vs. Estimated Readings: If the utility provider was unable to access your meter for some reason, they may create an estimated reading. When the meter is finally checked, the provider may adjust your bill to reflect the actual amount used.
• Bill Adjustments: Sometimes, adjustments are made to the bill if there was an error in a former cycle or if the former cycle had an estimated reading that was lower than what was actually used.
• Fixed Charges: Unfortunately, many utility providers charge a fixed fee each month, even if no energy is actually used.
• Total Account Balance: If you have not paid your electricity bill from a previous month, you will need to separate the total account balance from your monthly charge. You should also exclude any late fees when you compare different bills.

One way to make a comparison clearer is by looking at kilowatt-hours (kWh) or therms per day. However, this only works if you are comparing the same fuel type over a similar number of days. For example, 90 therms over 30 days and 96 therms over 32 days have the same average per day, even though one bill will be higher.

It’s also important to note that your heating energy use vs. cost will not be perfectly correlated. Other household appliances, fixed charges, and changes in utility rates can also affect your costs.

Common Reasons Heating Energy Use Increases

So, why is my heating bill so high? If you have noticed a sudden increase in your heating bill, there are a few underlying issues that may be responsible. By figuring out the cause, you can determine if there is an issue with your HVAC equipment and how to avoid high energy bills in the future.

Colder Temperatures or Longer Heating Demand

One of the most common reasons for higher energy bills is the weather. In the Denver and Littleton area, winters can get frigid. The increased heating demand can cause your energy costs to surge. Depending on your utility provider, you may be able to see the average monthly outdoor temperature on your bill, making it easier to see when weather conditions may be involved.

Occupancy Levels and Set Points

When more people are at home, it leads to increased hot water usage and more frequent door openings. If the home is occupied for more hours each day, the HVAC system may run for longer. Some occupants may also prefer higher set points, leading to increased energy consumption.

Insulation Issues, Air Leakage, or Duct Problems

If your home has poor insulation or damaged ductwork, heat loss and air leakage can occur. When this happens, your HVAC system has to work harder to replace the lost heat. The added workload results in higher energy costs.

Neglected or Faulty Equipment 

A lack of routine maintenance or a faulty component can cause your HVAC system to work harder to reach the same temperature level. When this happens, you may notice unusual noises, short cycling, abnormal runtimes, or uneven performance. However, these symptoms do not inherently mean that you have a bad or inefficient furnace. For example, long runtime can happen when the furnace is under load.

Auxiliary or Electric Resistance Heat Usage

If your heat pump is unable to keep up with demand, it may use auxiliary or electric resistance heat to make up the difference. Electric resistance auxiliary heat is generally less efficient than heat pump operation, so increased reliance on it can raise electricity costs.

Space Heaters and Other Household Loads

Electric space heaters and other household equipment can also be at fault. While HVAC equipment is a major contributor to a home’s energy bills, other appliances also rely on energy. For example, faulty water heaters can increase your energy costs significantly. If you are frequently relying on space heaters for warmth, it can also drive up your bills. 

A Homeowner Checklist for Finding the Likely Cause

To reduce heating costs in Denver, you should first narrow down the cause of your higher bills. Then, you can perform basic heating maintenance to improve your energy efficiency. For more complex tasks, you can reach out to our team for professional HVAC maintenance and repairs.

Review the Bill and Usage

The first step is gathering all of the relevant facts. Start by reviewing your bill and meter-reading labels. Then, check your thermostat history. Note any differences to your schedule, hold settings, or household routines. If you are warming the house for longer or the thermostat’s hold function is overriding the schedule settings, it could be impacting your energy consumption. 

You should record all of your observations so that you can track how your energy consumption changes over time and what may be impacting it. If you do require professional HVAC repairs, your observations can help the technician narrow down the potential cause.

Inspect the Filter

While each manufacturer has different requirements, most filters need to be changed every 30 to 90 days. During periods of peak usage, they become loaded faster and have to be changed more frequently. If your energy bills have increased, you should check the filter and replace it as needed.

Clear Returns and Vents

Furniture, clothes, and other belongings can end up blocking returns and vents. Periodically, go from room to room to verify that your home’s vents and returns are open and unobstructed. 

Sometimes, people close room registers in an attempt to save money. Instead of saving money, this can result in damage to your HVAC system. Closed registers can change the pressure in the system, straining the internal components and increasing the likelihood of a breakdown.

Check for Drafts and Dust

Drafts near your doors and windows can indicate air leaks or deteriorating weatherstripping, which can lead to heat loss. If you notice excess dust, you may also have leaky or damaged ductwork. Because this allows heat to escape, your system has to work harder in order to heat your home to its setpoint. 

For your safety, you should never disable ventilation or block combustion-air openings. You should also never open panels or work with electrical components yourself.

Who to Contact and What to Ask

When you’re dealing with higher energy bills, there are multiple parties that can help you determine the cause. If you are concerned about an estimated reading, utility rates, or unexpected changes to your bill, you should call the utility provider. They will be able to answer why your bill has specific charges and what each charge means.

For abnormal HVAC behavior, you should reach out to our Comfort Specialists. We can perform an energy assessment and diagnose HVAC problems. Our team will check your controls, airflow, and performance under load to see if everything is operating correctly. If there is an issue with your equipment operation, we can recommend the best maintenance or repairs for your situation. 

Having a high electricity or gas bill is not an emergency on its own. Because of this, the best course of action is to have the cause of the issue diagnosed.

However, a gas odor or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is an immediate emergency. Evacuate your family from your home. Once you are in a safe location, you can call 911 or your utility provider’s emergency line. After the immediate danger is taken care of, you can reach out for an HVAC inspection.

Plan Improvements and Track the Results

How you reduce your utility costs will depend on the cause of your increased energy consumption. After you have compared the days and weather patterns in your energy bill, you can call our team for an energy assessment. We can help you determine if HVAC maintenance, repairs, or envelope work are necessary. 

In the future, you can optimize your energy usage by scheduling routine tune-ups. During heating maintenance, our team can clean your unit’s components, lubricate moving parts, and improve airflow. These tune-ups are an opportunity to spot minor issues before they escalate and cause a full breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my bill rise if my thermostat setting did not change? 

Even though your thermostat settings remained the same, other factors may be influencing your home’s energy consumption. Colder weather, higher occupancy levels, and increased utility rates can result in higher energy costs. It’s also worth looking at the number of days in the cycle. Longer months typically involve higher heating usage.

Can an estimated meter reading affect the next bill? 

Yes, it can. Getting an actual meter reading can correct this estimate. If the actual reading and estimated reading are different, you can ask the utility provider to perform an account-specific adjustment.

Does a furnace running longer mean it needs replacement? 

No, it does not. While a failing furnace may run for longer periods, other reasons can also cause this to occur. For example, changing the setpoint significantly can lead to a longer runtime as the temperature adjusts. Colder weather can also lead to longer runtimes, so it’s important to assess the system’s performance and condition before repairing or replacing anything.

Should I turn down the heat pump when I leave? 

It all depends on the situation. Heat pumps with electric resistance backup heating may benefit from maintaining a consistent thermostat setting because large temperature setbacks can trigger less-efficient auxiliary heat during recovery.

If you are only leaving for a few hours or overnight, it is likely better to leave the heat pump at the same setting. For vacations and absences longer than 24 hours, you may want to turn the thermostat down to avoid a high electric heating bill. 

When you’re away during freezing weather, keeping your thermostat set to at least 55°F can help reduce the risk of frozen pipes. However, homes with poorly insulated or exposed plumbing may require higher temperatures and additional freeze protection.

Take the Next Step With Elkhorn

Struggling to figure out “Why is my heating bill so high?” Our Comfort Specialists can evaluate your home in the Denver or Littleton area. We can perform an energy assessment to determine the cause of your rising energy costs.

Once we’ve narrowed down the potential problem, we can walk you through our recommended repairs with no pressure. To make performing repairs easier, we are committed to providing upfront pricing, same-day service, and money-back guarantees.

Book your furnace or heat pump repairs today.