When you move into a home — new or new to you — you want to know about all the appliances. But take extra special care when it comes to the HVAC system. Your heating and cooling system is likely the most expensive appliance in your home, and you will want to know all about it, including such points as these:
- How old is the HVAC system?
- If you’re buying an older home, is there a maintenance and repair record?
- How efficient is the system? (Have a look at the yellow energy-efficiency label.)
This will get you started, but there are a number of other things to pay attention to. Following are some HVAC questions you should address.
Assessing the HVAC
- With a pre-owned home, make note of any significant upgrades, such as replacement of a compressor, duct repairs, installation of a programmable thermostat, or replacement of the air handler.
- Take a walk through the home and notice how cool or warm you are in different parts of the house. It may be if there are significant temperature differences in parts of the home, there are problems with air distribution.
- Have a look at the equipment. You may not be an expert, but you can examine the indoor equipment for leaks (either oil or moisture), dirty conditions, rust, corrosion, noticeable cracks in the heat exchanger, dirty burners, and the like. When you turn the system on, does it make odd noises? Get a thorough explanation of any potential problem you observe.
- When you tour the home, the real estate agent showing you the place will likely just turn the controls on so you can see if the heating and cooling work, but they won’t really be able to tell you much about the system, including its capacity and efficiency. Perhaps you can hire an HVAC consultant to accompany you and inspect the system before you agree to buy the home.
To learn more about HVAC questions you should ask before buying a home, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. We serve Dayton and the surrounding area.
