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Buying a new home is an exciting event in anyone’s life. Whether you’re a single man or woman looking for a new place or you’re with a family looking for a new house to settle in, you should not let the excitement overcome you. You should always remember to be cautious and check every nook and cranny of the house. This also means you should check the HVAC system.

In fact, one of the most important things that you should carefully look into and evaluate is a home’s HVAC system. The HVAC or heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is responsible for your home’s air quality and level of comfort in terms of the indoor temperature.

Thus, it is very important to make sure that the HVAC system of your future new home is in great shape. But how do you know whether the HVAC system is in great shape?

Here are 5 tips to check the HVAC system when buying a home:

1. Ask When The HVAC System Has Last Been Upgraded

Like any other technology, HVAC systems improve every year. So it’s important for you to know how new the HVAC system installed in the house is and when it was last upgraded. If it has been more than 10 years, then you will most certainly have to replace it with a new one.

Replacing the whole system can be very expensive. Thus, if the HVAC system in the house is old and already needs replacement, make sure that you deduct this expense from the price of the house. But if you can get the house at a low price, it might still be worth it, even if you need to spend some money to replace the HVAC system.

2. Check The Physical Condition Of The HVAC System

HVAC systems are often located in parts of the house that are not seen when realtors give you a tour of the house. They are often in a hidden corner of the basement in the back of the house, or other places that you would not notice.

However, if you are seriously considering buying the house you should inspect the physical condition of the HVAC system. Check the ducts, the insulation, the air conditioning and heating machines. Take note of rust, dents, leaks, cracks and other physical damage. You should also listen for any hissing sounds or other noise from the machine that should not be there.

HVAC systems should go through maintenance annually and there should be a record of it, too. So, make sure that you get to see the maintenance records from the home’s previous owners.

3. When Getting A Tour Of The House, Check The Comfort Level In Each Room

The comfort level in each room of the house can be a great indicator of how well the HVAC system is working. If there are no drafts and leaks, the house should be well ventilated and the air conditioning and heating system would be working efficiently and effectively to maintain a good comfort level in every room.

If some rooms in the house are not well ventilated or are too hot, then the home’s HVAC system may have a problem. If this is the case, make sure to pinpoint the problem so you can be assured that it will not be an additional expense on your part after the purchase of the house.

4. Assess The Energy Efficiency Of The HVAC System

Different models and make of heating and air conditioning systems have different energy efficiency rates. These machines often come with a yellow energy label that specifies their energy efficiency and the operating cost of the system.

Make sure to check these in the machine that is used in your HVAC system. If you are not sure how this works, then ask a professional and get their advice on the matter.

5. Ask What Kind Of Refrigerant The HVAC System Uses

Older types of HVAC systems use the refrigerant known as R-22 which has already been banned by the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency. Thus, make sure that the HVAC system is not using this type of refrigerant.

If you are not confident in your capacity to properly assess the condition of a home’s HVAC system, you can always ask professionals to help you and conduct a thorough assessment that is needed.

The most important thing when getting a new home is getting it for a good price. An HVAC system is an important part of any home. It is expensive to have it replaced, so make sure that you get a home that has a well functioning one.

We hope you found this blog post on 5 Tips for Checking an HVAC System When Buying a New Home useful. Be sure to check out our post on 10 Things to Look Out For When Buying a New Home for more great tips!


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