Purchasing your new home is likely to become one of the most-if not the most-expensive purchase you make in your life. And, if you’re like many new homeowners, you’ve probably been saving for this acquisition for quite some time.
Since so much of your time and hard-earned money will go into this purchase, it’s extremely important that you choose a home that is in upstanding condition. The last thing any new homeowner wants is to find unexpected and unwanted surprises a few days after unpacking all of his belongings.
While there are a lot of factors to keep in mind when searching for your new home (such as the size of the yard, number of bedrooms, and the condition of the foundation and roof), there are some details that may slip through the cracks. And even though you probably had an inspector visit the home before you signed any documents, these home inspections aren’t always fool-proof and other times, you may want a second opinion. That’s why, when compiling your to-do list before you close on a new home, Dean Matthews of AAA Airwaves Air Conditioning and Heating, which specializes in ac and heating repairs in Okaloosa, Florida, urges you to add an HVAC inspection to your checklist.
It’s a wise idea, Matthews says, for a new homeowner to contact an HVAC technician in the area for a preliminary and preventive inspection. While the problems that the specialist finds may not necessarily be so large that you choose to pass on the home, it’s still important to have the repairs addressed as soon as possible. Unfortunately, he adds, when people choose to ignore the suggestions to have their heating and cooling units repaired or replaced, they don’t know what they are getting themselves into. Eventually, the problem will only become more expensive and may even cause your whole system to breakdown.
When Matthews or a member of the AAA Airwaves Air Conditioning and Heating team walks through a home for an inspection, there are a few key components that he is looking to address, some of which you may also be able to speak with the previous owner about yourself:
- How old is the unit?
- Is it still under warranty?
- What were some of the previous repairs on the unit?
- When was the HVAC system last inspected or maintained?
- Is the coil inside the unit dirty?
- Is the unit proportionate to the size of the house?
- Is the platform that the unit is sitting on in good condition?
- Is the system efficient?
If you’re pressed for time and haven’t had the opportunity to contact an HVAC technician, or you just want to double-check the information for yourself, then Matthews says that besides obtaining proof of a warranty and past inspection receipts from the homeowners, you should also contact the electric company and ask for a comparison between what the current homeowner’s energy bill is and the bills of the surrounding homes. Too often, he says, the HVAC unit in a home is too small to properly handle the space of the home. And when you are operating on a smaller system, the unit will end up overworking itself, lowering the life expectancy and raising your monthly bills. In addition, if you notice that the platform where the HVAC sits is cracked or moldy, then it is a strong indicator that there is a leak.
While no amount of advice is going to replicate the advantage of having an HVAC specialist visit your new home for himself, becoming educated on your home’s HVAC system and the signs that something is awry will help you become a knowledgeable (and satisfied) consumer.
