Tips for Evaluating an HVAC System When Buying a Home

Posted on 07/25/2018

Home buying can be an exciting and emotional time in anyone’s life. One of the things that makes buying a house so stressful is the fear that something will break soon after moving in, leaving a major hole in the household budget.

While you can’t predict the future, you can take steps that can give you an idea of what to expect from a house’s HVAC equipment. In addition to undergoing a home inspection, Breathing Clean recommends doing the following:

1. Visually inspect the unit

Because furnaces, boilers and air conditioning units are usually hidden away, it’s important to know what the equipment looks like or if it makes any noises. This won’t be an accurate assessment, but you may notice things that cause concerns that you can talk about with your home inspector. You can also hire a certified HVAC contractor to perform an in-depth inspection. 

2. Ask about the system’s age

The age of the current system can give you an idea of how much life it has left and when you can expect it will need to be replaced. Keep in mind that most systems last between 10 and 15 years. If the home you’re buying has an older unit, there is no need to run! Maintenance over the years has a major impact on how long the system lasts. new home's air duct

3. Ask about past maintenance and repairs

Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping an HVAC system running efficiently and extending the life of the unit. You can get an idea of how well the previous owner cared for the unit by asking the maintenance history. Did they get routine checkups or did they call for service only when they had an issue?

4. Notice the comfort level in different rooms

If only certain rooms are uncomfortable, it could mean there is something wrong with the HVAC system, like leaking or uninsulated ducts.  Issues like this can make your HVAC unit work harder, costing more money on energy bills and limiting the lifespan of your system. 

Be sure to inspect the HVAC equipment as thoroughly as possible before committing to purchasing a home. Take time to survey your potential equipment and ask questions about its history. These simple steps can save you from discovering a big and costly problem post-move-in.