HVAC Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Home

Are you looking at buying a house? If you’re considering an older home, you’ll want to know about the roof, foundation, lighting, plumbing and electrical system for sure, but also the HVAC system. Most likely, as you’re being shown a home, the real estate agent will turn on the system to show you it runs.

But you need to know much, much more than that before you sign on the dotted line.

Questions to Ask About a Home’s HVAC System

1. How old is the unit? Most HVAC systems can be expected to last 10 to 15 years. If you’re looking at a home that has an older HVAC, you probably want to either ask for the owner to lower the price a bit so you can save for a new unit, or ask that a new one be installed.

Be aware that since R-22 is being phased out, any older HVAC that uses this refrigerant will need to be replaced by one that uses the newer refrigerants as R-22 supplies dwindle and become more expensive.

2. What kind of maintenance has been performed? Ask to see records that prove the homeowner has had annual maintenance performed. Ask about any major repairs that have been done. Check for a rattling compressor and dirty air vents, signs the system hasn’t been maintained.
3. How efficient is the system? Newer systems tend to be more efficient in general, but you can confirm this by checking on whether the HVAC is an Energy Star model. Energy Star is a government program that recognizes certain appliances for their higher efficiency. Newer units should have a label on them certifying that they are Energy Star rated; the labels should also have efficiency information on them.
4. Is the warranty transferable? Most HVAC systems have a warranty, but you’ll need to see if the one in the home you’re looking at is transferable to a new owner.

To learn the right questions to ask about the HVAC system when buying a house, contact Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions; We serve Orlando and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “adjieargoputra/Pixabay”