HVAC Home Buyers Checklist
Buying a home can be an exciting, yet stressful experience. When you are searching for the perfect home for your needs and budgets, there are many things on your checklist. Does it have enough bedrooms? Is the yard big enough? Is it in a good neighbourhood?
Once you’ve found a home that meets your criteria and you’ve put in an offer that’s been accepted, typically the next step is a home inspection. A home inspection is designed to let you know what condition the home is in and notify you of any potential problems. Essentially it’s an overview of the home and any glaring issues will be noted.
But home inspectors are not trained to look beyond the surface, and do not have the education, experience and licenses required to dig deeper into the mechanical workings of your potential new home.
For example, a home inspector may note the age of the furnace, but will not look inside to see if it’s been properly cared for or serviced, or if there are any worn or broken parts. The last thing you want is to move in and find out that the furnace or air conditioner won’t turn on! Major repairs can cause major headaches and can seriously dent your bank account if you are not expecting it.
That’s why we recommend that you have a gas certified technician inspect the furnace BEFORE you purchase the home to give you a thorough idea of what shape the furnace and air conditioner are in.
We can let you know if your furnace is in need of major repairs or service, or if you will need a new one in the near future.
While the condition of the furnace may not change your mind about buying the home, it will at least prepare you for any potential repairs or replacements. You can then use this knowledge in your negotiation with the current home owner.
Once you have moved in, you can keep your furnace running smoothly with our yearly maintenance checks.
Good luck and enjoy your new home!
For HVAC services in Oshawa, Whitby, Courtice, Bowmanville and the surrounding Durham Region area, trust Ashton Heating. We’ve been proudly serving Durham Region for over 15 years.
Bill Ashton
Your local friendly HVAC Expert
3 important HVAC Issues to look for in your potential new home
ASK ABOUT MAINTENANCE
Many Home Owners keep records of their maintenance and service history. Ask for these records if they are available. If a unit on a home is relatively new, but has not been maintained at all you can expect there may be repairs or service required ahead. You'll also want to know if major components like coils have been replaced and when.
HOW OLD IS THE FURNACE?
This is a must ask question. If the seller doesn't have an exact answer for you, There should be a label on HVAC appliances like the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump that gives its date of manufacture. we also recommend whether the unit is original or not. While some equipment may last longer than others, if it's more than 15 years old, you should be prepared for replacement at any time or costly repair bills.
HOW MUCH ARE CURRENT ENERGY BILLS?
A great way to be prepared for your future expenses are to ask the current owner to see current energy bills so that you know what to expect in both winter and summer seasons. You'll also want to ask about the efficiency of the unit and if any other energy upgrades like insulation etc have been done.