HVAC Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home is an exciting event, but there are also a lot of unknowns. Are there any underlying problems? Do the appliances seem like they’re holding up? A good thing for first-time home buyers to take a look at is the condition of the house’s HVAC equipment. A furnace that’s in particularly rough shape may 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 might not know what to look for. Luckily, there are a few pieces of information that can offer insight into the overall condition the HVAC equipment is in.

What year was the equipment manufactured and installed?

If you can, you’ll want to find out 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 should be 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 great shape, particularly if routine maintenance has been provided.

What service company installed it?

This might not always be easy to verify, 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 an idea about the quality of service the HVAC equipment has received so far.

Has it received any routine maintenance?

Quality preventive maintenance is one of the best things you can do for HVAC equipment. Previous homeowners don’t always bother with it, which may leave the HVAC system at a greater risk of problems, particularly if the HVAC system hasn’t even been on in a while. Routine maintenance can include everything from replacing the air filter to keeping important components clean and well-lubricated.

What ratings are available for your HVAC system?

Once you learn the make and model, you can do some online research. If there’s been a consistent problem or even something like a product recall, replacing the HVAC system might need to be factored into total costs. Otherwise, you could move in only to have a broken HVAC system before the last box is unpacked.

Find an Experienced HVAC Technician 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 comprehensive inspection, confirming existing issues and looking for any others. If the issue can be fixed with a simple tune-up, buying the house should still be worth it.

And there’s always the possibility the previous owner simply 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 details you have, the better decisions you can make.

Enjoy Your Comfortable New Home with Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning

If you’re unsure about a possible 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 Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning at 636-456-5041.