Purchasing your first home is an exciting event, but there are also a lot of moving parts. Are there any hidden problems? Do the appliances seem like they’re holding up? A good thing for first-time home buyers to inspect is the condition of the house’s HVAC system. A furnace that’s in particularly bad shape may be the difference between making an offer on a house and searching elsewhere.

So if you’re a first-time home buyer, what should be on your HVAC checklist? Let’s review some of the key things you’ll want to know about the HVAC system.

What Should Be on Your HVAC Checklist?

Unless you’re already familiar with HVAC equipment, you might not know what to look for. Fortunately, there are a few pieces of information that can offer insight into the overall condition the HVAC equipment is in.

What year was the equipment manufactured and installed?

If you can, you’ll want to determine when the make and model was first manufactured. Older models can be less energy efficient and may lack convenient features found in new equipment. This is usually fairly easy to find, but it’s also only half the information you want. You should also attempt to find out when the equipment was installed.

Even if an HVAC system was manufactured several years ago, the installation itself could have been more recent. Recent installations are more likely to be in good shape, particularly if routine maintenance has been provided.

What service company installed it?

This may not always be easy to verify, but the previous homeowner may have scheduled a tune-up or maintenance visit before placing the house on the market. When this is the same service company that installed it, you can get a better sense of the level of service the HVAC equipment has received so far.

Has it received any routine maintenance?

Quality preventive maintenance is one of the best things you can provide HVAC equipment. Previous homeowners don’t always bother with it, which can sometimes leave the HVAC system at a larger risk of problems, namely if the HVAC system hasn’t even been on in a while. Routine maintenance can consist of everything from replacing the air filter to keeping crucial components clean and well-lubricated.

What ratings are available for your HVAC system?

Once you find the make and model, you can do some online research. If there’s been a consistent problem or even something like a product recall, getting a new HVAC system might need to be considered as part of the total costs. Otherwise, you could move in only to have a broken HVAC system before the last box is unpacked.

Choose a Trusted Service Company for an Inspection and Tune-Up

If you’ve discovered a problem with the home’s HVAC system, consider checking with a trusted local service company before you decide against buying. They can complete a comprehensive inspection, verifying existing issues and looking for any others. If the issue can be fixed with a simple tune-up, buying the house should still be worth it.

And there’s always the possibility the previous owner simply wasn’t aware of the problem. If there’s something wrong with the HVAC system, it never hurts to ask if likely replacement costs can be factored into the cost of the home itself. In any case, the more details you have, the better decisions you can make.

Check Everything Off Your List with Air-Right Energy Design

If you’re unsure about a potential dream home, don’t let some HVAC problems get in the way. With a few key pieces of information, you can make a well-informed decision about purchasing your first home.

Don’t forget to have a trustworthy service company on your side. They can keep equipment working smoothly with repair and maintenance support. For quality local service, call Air-Right Energy Design at 703-260-1148.