Beat the January price hikes and keep thousands in your pocket.
Let’s be honest: On your list of “Fun Things to Buy for the Holidays,” a new furnace is probably right at the bottom, somewhere below “new tires” and “root canal.”
We get it. It feels like a “next year” problem.
But here is the industry secret that most homeowners don’t know: In the HVAC world, December isn’t just the end of the year—it is the financial finish line. Waiting just 30 days until January could cost you thousands in lost tax credits, higher equipment prices, and wasted energy.
Here is why savvy Bastrop homeowners are upgrading now instead of waiting for the ball to drop.
1. The “Christmas Morning Nightmare” (Don’t Let It Happen to You)
Picture this: It’s December 24th. The house is packed with family. The turkey is in the oven. And suddenly… the house goes silent. The heat is off.
Now, instead of opening gifts, you’re scrambling to find an emergency heating repair technician on a holiday weekend.
If your system is over 12 years old, making groaning noises, or struggled to keep up last winter, it is living on borrowed time. Old systems love to fail when they work the hardest: during those deep December freezes.
- The December Move: Replace it on your schedule, not during a midnight emergency. No stress, no emergency fees, just a cozy holiday.
2. The “January Price Jump” is Real
Here is an unfortunate reality of our industry: HVAC equipment prices almost always go up in Q1.
Between raw material costs (copper and steel) and manufacturer adjustments, brands like Carrier and Trane typically adjust pricing at the start of the year.
- The December Move: When you schedule your heating installation now, you are locking in 2025 pricing. If you wait until January 15th, you could end up paying hundreds more for the exact same unit.
3. The Tax Credit Loophole (Get Paid Back in Months, Not Years)
You know about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) credits that pay up to $2,000 for high-efficiency heat pumps. But did you know the IRS cares about the installation date?
- Scenario A (Install Dec 30): You claim the credit on the tax return you file this coming Spring. That’s money in your pocket in just a few months.
- Scenario B (Install Jan 2): You have to wait until Spring 2027 to see that money.
Why let the government hold onto your money for an extra year?
4. Stop Feeding the “Energy Vampire” in Your Attic
Every month you run that 15-year-old furnace, you are paying a “hidden tax” to the utility company.
Older systems lose efficiency every year. They have to run longer and work harder to produce the same amount of heat. With January and February typically bringing the coldest temps (and highest bills) for Central Texas, sticking with your old unit means you are about to overpay for heat all winter long.
- The December Move: Stop throwing good money after bad. Install a high-efficiency system now and start lowering your utility bills immediately—right when you need the savings the most.
The Verdict: Don’t Gamble with Winter
You have two choices this month:
- Cross your fingers, pay higher utility bills, and hope the old unit survives the freeze.
- Upgrade now, lock in lower pricing, claim fast tax credits, and sleep soundly through the silent (and warm) night.
