If you’re looking to buy someone else’s home (vs. building your own), there’s a lot to consider. That, of course, includes the home’s heating and cooling systems. And unless you bring in your own HVAC contractor to inspect them, you’re going to have to take the word of the seller and the person selected for the official home inspection required by the lender.
At Optimum Air, we believe most people will give you straight answers to your questions, just as they hope and expect others would do for them. So go ahead and ask these questions so you know what to inspect once you move in:
- How old is each system?
- When was the last time each was professionally serviced?
- Do you have records and receipts of system repairs?
- How much does it cost you to heat and cool your home, and have you been noticing an uptick in costs lately?
- Is your house unusually dusty?
- Is your home exceptionally dry in the winter, or overly humid during the summer months?
- How old is your attic insulation and what kind of condition is it in?
- Have you ever had your air ducts cleaned and, if so, do you recall the last time that service was performed?
Sure, there are other questions you could ask, but there’s a lot more to a purchasing decision than the condition of the heating and cooling systems, and you certainly don’t want to get lost in the details.
What you do want to know, however, is what to expect indoor-comfort-wise after you move in and what you can expect to pay in utility costs. You’re also looking for information about indoor air quality, and whether you might do well to install a whole-house air filter or humidity control system for your family’s added comfort and greater energy savings.
If you want an opinion you can take to the bank on the condition of a home’s heating and cooling systems, contact us and we’ll be happy to inspect them for you. Optimum Air: your local heating and cooling friends in the business.