Free homeowner tools
HVAC tools & honest cost estimators
Built to help you decide for yourself — which system fits, whether to repair or replace, what it really costs, the rebates you can stack, and the conditions outside right now. Equipment-brand neutral. No fabricated prices.
Decide
Figure out what's right for your home
No pressure, no email wall — answer a few questions and get an honest starting point you can act on.
Free · 60-second match
Which HVAC system is right for my home?
For most North Bay homes, a heat pump is the best all-in-one match — our mild Sonoma, Marin, and Napa County climate suits it, and Sonoma Clean Power plus federal rebates can cut the cost. Homes with no ductwork or specific problem rooms usually do best with a ductless mini-split; homes that already have ducts and gas may keep a furnace + AC.
Answer all 5 questions for your match (0/5 done).
“Don’t heat pumps stop working when it’s cold?”
That myth comes from old equipment. The North Bay rarely sees a hard freeze, and modern cold-climate heat pumps keep heating efficiently well below our typical winter lows. This quiz is a starting point — the right call depends on your ducts, panel, and home, which is exactly what our free in-home assessment confirms. We don’t push one brand or system.
Free · instant estimate
What size HVAC system do I need?
A rough rule for our mild North Bay climate is about one ton of capacity per ~500 sq ft, adjusted for ceilings and insulation. Use it to set expectations — but the right size comes from a Manual J load calculation, which we do free. Oversizing actually makes comfort worse.
Ballpark size · confirm with a Manual J
3 – 4 tons
Roughly 36,000–48,000 BTU/hr for a 1,800 sq ft home. The exact size depends on windows, orientation, duct condition, and air sealing — all measured in a free in-home assessment.
“Won’t a bigger system cool/heat better?”
No — oversizing is the most common sizing mistake. An oversized system short-cycles: it blasts to temperature, shuts off, and never runs long enough to pull out humidity or balance room-to-room. You get hot/cold spots, a clammy feel, more wear, and higher bills. Right-sizing with a Manual J is what makes a system quiet, even, and efficient.
Free triage · step 1 of 3
What’s actually wrong with my HVAC system?
Tell us what your system is doing and we’ll give you the likely cause, how urgent it is, and the next step — a 30-second triage from a team that has diagnosed thousands of North Bay systems. It’s a starting point, not a final diagnosis.
Free · instant estimate
Should I repair or replace my furnace or AC?
The rule of thumb the trade uses: multiply your system’s age in years by the repair cost. If it’s over about $5,000, replacement usually makes more sense. In the North Bay, heat-pump rebates can tip a close call toward replacing.
Replacement is likely the better value
Your math: 10 yrs × $800 = $8,000 vs. the $5,000 line.
Your age × repair-cost is at or above the $5,000 line (or the system is near end of life). Pouring a big repair into an old unit rarely pays off — and a high-efficiency replacement can qualify for North Bay heat-pump rebates that close the gap.
“Isn’t it always cheaper to just repair?”
Not when the system is old. A $1,200 repair on a 16-year-old furnace is $19,200 on the rule — money spent on a unit that may fail again next season. The honest answer depends on your equipment’s condition and remaining life, which is what a free in-home assessment confirms. We never inflate a repair to push a sale.
Free · summer cooling check
Is my HVAC ready for summer cooling season?
Six quick checks tell you whether your system is ready to cool your North Bay home reliably this season — and exactly what to fix first if it isn’t. Skipping maintenance doesn’t save money; it trades a small tune-up for a big repair.
Answer all 6 checks for your readiness score (0/6).
Transparent pricing
Understand the money before anyone visits
Honest industry ranges, the rebates you may qualify for, and what a monthly payment really looks like. The only exact number comes from a free written quote.
Transparent pricing
What does a new HVAC system cost in the North Bay?
Honest answer: it depends on the system, your home, and your ducts — so anyone quoting an exact price sight-unseen is guessing. Below are typical industry installed ranges to set expectations. They are not an Enviro quote; your real, written price comes from a free in-home assessment.
Typical industry installed range · not an Enviro quote
$8,000 – $20,000
for a whole-home heat pump. Coastal Northern California often sits at the higher end. Your actual price depends on equipment, sizing (a proper Manual J load calc), ducts, and access — all confirmed on site, in writing, for free.
“Isn’t the cheapest quote the best deal?”
Not usually. A lowball quote often skips the load calculation, uses an undersized or builder-grade unit, or leaves out permits and proper duct work — costs that resurface as high bills and early failure. Compare line-by-line scope, equipment, and warranty, not just the bottom number. That’s exactly what our Free 2nd Opinion checks.
Ranges shown are illustrative industry figures for education and are reviewed periodically; they are not a price quote or guarantee.
Energy savings · estimate
What does my HVAC cost to run — and could a high-efficiency upgrade pay off?
Older equipment burns more energy to deliver the same comfort. Tell us what you run now and we’ll estimate your current annual operating cost versus a high-efficiency system, shown as an honest range. These are estimates at today’s PG&E rates — your real numbers come from a free in-home energy assessment (and a Manual J load calculation).
Estimated operating cost · not a quote
Running it now
~$560 / yr
at ≈ SEER 10
High-efficiency upgrade
$310–$370 / yr
at SEER2 17+ (≈ SEER 18)
Save ~$190–$250 / yr
roughly 33%–44% less energy — about $1,900–$2,500 over ~10 years at today’s rates (energy prices have historically risen, so real lifetime savings are usually higher).
“How is this calculated — and will I really save that much?”
The honest part is the efficiency ratio: a system rated ≈ SEER 10 uses more energy than a modern SEER2 17+ (≈ SEER 18) one to deliver the same heating or cooling, so the savings track that difference. We anchor the dollars on your own bill (or a home-size estimate) and show a range, because real-world savings land at about 75–100% of the lab-rated difference depending on your ducts, usage, and weather. Figures assume PG&E residential rates of roughly $0.4/kWh electricity and $2.75/therm gas (early 2026). The only exact number comes from a free in-home energy assessment and Manual J load calculation — we never inflate savings to push a sale.
Estimate only, for education — not a quote, bid, or guarantee of savings. Actual operating cost and savings depend on your equipment, home, usage, and current PG&E rate plan.
Payback · estimate
Is a higher-efficiency system actually worth it?
The honest math is simple: take what the upgrade costs after rebates and credits, then divide by what it saves you each year on energy. We pull those annual savings from the same engine as our operating-cost tool, so the two always agree. In our mild North Bay climate, heat pumps with the federal 25C credit pay off fastest — and we show the answer as an honest range, never a single inflated number.
Typical industry installed range — not an Enviro quote.
Estimate · not a quote
Net cost after rebates
$12,000
$14,000 − $2,000 rebates
Energy savings
$690–$930 / yr
≈ SEER 11 → SEER2 17+ heat pump
Pays for itself in
about 13–17 years
over a ~15-yr life
Over ~15 years that’s about $10,350–$13,950 in energy savings — roughly $0–$1,950 ahead after the net cost. Energy prices have historically risen, so real lifetime savings are usually higher.
It's a genuine maybe: in the better case the energy savings cover the net cost within the system's lifetime, but it depends on how hard you run it and which rebates you land. Stacking the federal credit with a state/local program is what tips it positive.
“Doesn’t top-tier efficiency never actually pay off?”
It depends on the system and the climate — and being honest about that is the point. In the mild North Bay, squeezing the last bit of efficiency out of a furnace or AC rarely pays for itself on energy alone. A heat pump is the exception: it replaces both heating and cooling and qualifies for the largest rebates, so with the federal 25C credit plus a state or local program it can pay back within its lifetime. Payback equals net cost (after rebates) divided by annual savings — the same savings figure our operating-cost tool produces. The only exact numbers come from a free in-home quote with a Manual J load calculation, and we help with the rebate paperwork.
Estimate only, for education — not a quote, bid, or guarantee of savings or incentive eligibility. Install costs are illustrative industry ranges; rebate and tax-credit amounts depend on current programs, your equipment, and your tax situation, and we confirm them in writing.
Rebate concierge · estimate
What heat-pump rebates can I get in Sonoma County?
Going electric in the North Bay can stack incentives: the federal 25C tax credit (30% of cost, up to $2,000/yr for a qualifying heat pump) plus Sonoma Clean Power rebates — and income-qualified programs can add much more. Amounts and funding change, so we treat these as estimates and handle the paperwork for you.
Estimated potential incentives · [CONFIRM current amounts]
$3,000 – $5,000
- Federal 25C tax credit: up to $2,000 (30% of cost)
- Sonoma Clean Power rebate: $1,000 – $3,000
Estimates only — not tax advice or a guarantee. Final amounts depend on equipment, installation cost, program funding, income eligibility, and current federal and Sonoma Clean Power terms at the time of install. We verify what’s active and handle the filing.
Financing · estimate
What would my HVAC payment be per month?
Spreading a system over time keeps your home comfortable now and your savings intact. Slide to your budget and term for an estimated monthly range — your actual rate depends on the plan and credit approval. Promotional 0% / deferred-interest plans are sometimes available; ask us what’s current.
Estimated payment · 6.99%–14.99% APR [CONFIRM]
$238 – $285 / mo
on $12,000 over 60 months, on approved credit. With a promotional 0% plan, the same project is about $200/mo.
Estimate only — not an offer of credit. Actual APR, term, and payment are set by our financing partners — Wells Fargo for Trane systems and Synchrony for Mitsubishi systems — and subject to credit approval. Figures use a representative APR band [CONFIRM] that is reviewed periodically.
Plan value check
Find the right plan for your home
Every figure below is Enviro Heating & Air Conditioning’s real plan pricing — two professional tune-ups a year, member savings on repairs, and no service fee. Pick a tier and your equipment to see what it costs and covers. Your exact total is confirmed before you enroll.
$140/visit · 4 visits over 2 years.
Toggle on to see what the 10% member discount saves on a repair.
Your Silver plan
$280 / yr
About $23/mo · $560 for the full 2-year term · 1 system.
What’s included
$140 / visit
2 professional tune-ups per system each year — service you’d pay for anyway.
- 4 professional tune-up visits over 2 years
- 10% off repair parts & labor
- No service or diagnostic fee
- 2-year parts & labor warranty
- Same-day service
- 1"–4" pleated filter each visit
Plan rates cover one system (furnace + AC); single-unit homes are 50%. Additional equipment (ERV, HRV, humidifier, dehumidifier) can be added per piece. Figures are an illustration of current plan pricing — your exact total is confirmed before you enroll.
Live · North Bay
What's happening outside right now
Real-time conditions for Sonoma, Marin, and Napa County — and what they mean for your system and your indoor air today.
Live · Rohnert Park conditions
Right now in Rohnert Park — and what it means for your HVAC
Peak cooling & wildfire-smoke season — the hardest months on your AC and your indoor air.
Live weather via Open-Meteo — guidance only, not a system reading.
Live · Rohnert Park air quality
North Bay air quality right now — and what it means indoors
Live AQI via Open-Meteo — guidance only, not an official monitor reading.
Live · North Bay · PG&E time-of-use
Peak 4–9 PM
Are you in a peak-price electricity window right now?
In PG&E territory across the North Bay, electricity costs the most during the 4–9 PM peak and the least overnight and midday. The simplest way to cut your bill without losing comfort: precool before 4 PM, then let a smart thermostat ease back during peak.
Myth: cutting AC during peak means sweating it out. Not so — precooling before 4 PM lets your home coast through the peak window in comfort while your meter spins slower.
(707) 795-7219“How do time-of-use rates actually work?”
On a time-of-use plan, the price per kilowatt-hour changes by time of day. PG&E’s residential plans price the 4–9 PM block highest (with partial-peak shoulders just before and after on some plans), and overnight and midday lowest. This tool reads your device clock against that published schedule — it isn’t a live meter reading or a price feed. Exact hours and weekend rules vary by plan (E-TOU-C, E-ELEC, E-TOU-D), so check your bill. A smart thermostat and a tighter, higher-efficiency system are what let you shift load out of peak without noticing.
Based on PG&E’s published time-of-use windows — guidance only, not a live price. Confirm your exact rate plan and hours on your bill.
Ready for a real, no-pressure answer?
Already have a quote from another contractor? Our Free 2nd Opinion gives you an honest read before you commit — no obligation.