If you’re looking to purchase your very first home, there are a lot of things that you’re going to learn along the way. Understanding how an HVAC system works and what to look for when evaluating a potential home is a must. You don’t want a system that has problems which you’ll have to pay to fix after you buy a home. Here is a quick checklist that will assist you in determining the health of a potential home’s HVAC system.
Determine The Age Of Your Units
When you go on a tour to a potential home, you want to assess the age of your heating and cooling units. Most homes come with a furnace and an air conditioning unit. You can typically tell how old these systems are by simply looking at their label. Most systems will have the installation date placed on them or the manufacturer’s date of creation. Either way, you should determine the age of these units so you can determine how many years they have left before they need to be replaced. The industry standard for how long HVAC units last are anywhere between 10-20 years.
Figure Out Who Services The System
You should ask the seller which HVAC professional installed the system and who regularly services it. Many items come with a warranty, so you’ll need to know who you should be calling if you end up having problems with your systems. Keep in mind some manufacturer parts warranties may or may not be transferable. It is important to use a reputable company when it comes to maintaining and servicing your HVAC system, so you have the peace of mind that the job is done right. Most companies, like ourselves, provide history stickers located directly on the units so you can see how often the system was cleaned or any issues it’s had or been having.
Understand Your System Ratings
There are energy efficiency ratings on most newer systems that can give you an idea of how much the system will save you in running costs each year. When you assess your air conditioning unit, it’s called the SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and the higher the rating, the cheaper your system will be to run. For your furnace, this rating is the AFUE. This stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Again, the higher the AFUE number, the cheaper your system is going to be to run.
Ask About Annual Energy Costs
When you’re taking a look at a potential home, it’s always a good idea to inquire about what the price will be for your annual energy bill. The previous homeowner should be able to provide you with a ballpark figure so you can ensure that the energy bill will fit within your monthly budget. Also, if the house has a programmable thermostat, new windows, good insulation or ceiling fans this can also help keep operating cost down.
Call Us Today
HVAC systems can seem complex. This is why we have experts standing by who can assist you with all your HVAC-related needs. Whether you’re getting ready to purchase a new home or you’ve just done so recently, the experts at Christian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical can assist you in optimizing your HVAC system and helping you with energy efficient options.
