Buying your first home is an exciting event, but there are also a lot of moving parts. Are there any underlying problems? Do the appliances seem like they’re holding up? A good thing for first-time home buyers to review is the condition of the house’s HVAC system. A furnace that’s in particularly bad shape can sometimes be the difference between making an offer on a house and looking elsewhere.
So if you’re a first-time home buyer, what should be on your HVAC checklist? Let’s take a look at some of the key things you’ll want to know about the HVAC system.
What Should Be on Your HVAC Checklist?
Unless you’re already familiar with HVAC equipment, you may not know what to look for. Luckily, there are a few pieces of information that can deliver insight into the overall condition the HVAC system is in.
What year was the equipment manufactured and installed?
If you can, you’ll want to confirm when the make and model was first manufactured. Older models may be less energy efficient and may lack handy features available in new equipment. This is usually fairly easy to find, but it’s also only half the information you want. You should also attempt to find out when the equipment was installed.
Even if an HVAC system was manufactured several years ago, the installation itself could have been more recent. Recent installations are more likely to be in good shape, particularly if routine maintenance has been provided.
What service company installed it?
This might not always be easy to find out, but the previous homeowner may have scheduled a tune-up or maintenance visit before placing the house up for sale. When this is the same service company that installed it, you can get a better sense of the level of service the HVAC equipment has received so far.
Has it received any routine maintenance?
Professional preventive maintenance is one of the best things you can invest in for your HVAC equipment. Previous homeowners don’t always bother with it, which could leave the HVAC system at a larger risk of problems, namely if the HVAC system hasn’t even been used in a while. Routine maintenance can consist of everything from replacing the air filter to keeping key components clean and well-lubricated.
What ratings are available for your HVAC system?
Once you determine the make and model, you can do some online research. If there’s been a recurring problem or even something like a product recall, replacing the HVAC system may need to be considered as part of the total costs. Otherwise, you could move in only to have a broken HVAC system before the last box is unpacked.
Find a Trusted Service Company for Services like Maintenance
If you’ve found a problem with the home’s HVAC system, try calling a trusted local service company before you decide against buying. They can perform a thorough inspection, determining the extent of existing issues and looking for any others. If the issue can be fixed with a simple tune-up, buying the house might still be worth it.
And there’s always the possibility the previous owner just wasn’t aware of the problem. If there’s something wrong with the HVAC system, it never hurts to ask if potential replacement costs can be factored into the cost of the home itself. In any case, the more information you have, the better decisions you can make.
Keep Your First Home Comfortable with Aggressive Mechanical
If you’re on the fence about a potential dream home, don’t let some HVAC problems get in the way. With a few key pieces of information, you can make a well-informed decision about purchasing your first home.
Remember to have a trustworthy service company on your side. They can keep equipment running smoothly with repair and maintenance support. For quality local service, call Aggressive Mechanical at 732-806-5536.