If you’ve ever hosted holiday guests, you already know the truth: getting the food right is easy compared to keeping everyone comfortable. One person runs hot, another is freezing, someone opens a window, someone else closes it, and suddenly your thermostat is at the center of a family debate. In Houston, the challenge gets even more interesting. You may have a 40-degree morning followed by a 78-degree afternoon. Add a full house and you’ve got yourself a Texas-sized comfort

If you’re a Houston homeowner, you know the drill: The weather drops below 60°, social media erupts with “winter is here” memes, and you finally switch your thermostat from “cool” to “heat — just for tonight.” But then it happens. Your heater kicks on and suddenly… your entire home smells weird. Burning. Musty. Metallic. A faint electrical tang. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s “did something just catch on fire??”

Here’s the thing about Houston winters: they’re mild compared to up north, but they’re also unpredictable. One week it’s 80°, the next week you’re wondering if the pipes will freeze. That constant up-and-down has Houstonians running their HVAC systems in weird patterns — heat in the morning, AC by afternoon. It’s also when energy efficiency myths start circulating faster than the neighborhood group text about the next cold front.

Buying a home is a big deal — equal parts exciting, nerve-wracking, and financially terrifying. Between inspections, appraisals, and trying to figure out if your couch will fit in the new living room, there’s one thing you cannot afford to overlook: the HVAC system. In Houston, where air conditioning is basically a life-support system, ignoring the HVAC is like buying a car without asking if the engine works.

Save money and stay warm this winter! Discover 5 easy, expert-approved ways to reduce heating costs in your Houston home with help from Velocity Air A/C & Heating.