The Importance Of An HVAC Inspection When Selling A Home
Whether it is time to repair the house for the winter, for the summer, or for sale, performing a thorough HVAC inspection is always a necessity. This type of inspection is often serviced by a licensed, professional HVAC technician. In fact, when performed at least every spring and fall, it can save the homeowner a significant amount of their monthly utility bills because it ensures that the HVAC system is operating at its most efficient levels.
When any individual is putting their home up on the market, it is important that a home inspector take the time to make a note of the age, style, type in the last date of any inspection service on the HVAC system. They will do this for the prospective buyer to let them know exactly how the unit has been maintained over the years. Because of that, it is imperative that the existing homeowner maintain the unit as much as possible, to increase its longevity and maximize its efficiency.
When purchasing a home, the potential buyer will likely look at the outside panel. It will be at this location they will see any service record that has been maintained by a heating and cooling company that is performed any kind of service or maintenance on the system. It will indicate the last time that the furnace and air-conditioning unit was thoroughly inspected and by whom.
Many times, as an HVAC system begins to age, it will begin to show significant signs of wear and tear. It might be that the electrical components inside the unit are not up to standards which often could be disastrous to the longevity of the unit. With proper inspection, the licensed technician can ensure that all of the electrical boxes and wiring are correctly installed and that there are no signs of frayed wiring. They will also check the air exchanger, and the compressor, to make sure they are operating properly.
In homes that have gas-fired furnaces and an HVAC system, it is imperative that the inspector look for any signs of damage to the heat exchanger. Even a small crack can be disastrous to the homeowner, by allowing dangerous toxic fumes to enter inside the home whenever the unit is fired up.
Older models tend to need to be replaced, instead of repaired. This is because newer units are much more efficient than air-conditioning systems that were built just five or ten years ago. In fact, they run so efficiently that within a few years they can offset the costs involved in exchanging an old outdated system with a new one.
It is important to have an HVAC technician perform a routine heating and air conditioner inspection on the unit every spring or fall. This will ensure that it is running at its most efficient during the hottest and coldest times of the year.
The homeowner can always do their part in making sure that they change the air filter on a routine basis. Many air-conditioning manufacturers suggest that the air filters be changed at least once every month during use.
