Most home buyers have a ton of questions before deciding on a property. After all, purchasing a home is usually the most expensive purchase most people will ever make in their lives. If you are in the market for a new house, make sure you find out as much as you can about its HVAC system, or you might be in for a few nasty (and costly) surprises.

5 Questions to Ask About a Potential Home’s HVAC System

• How old is the unit? After ten years, most HVAC systems are getting towards the end of their trouble-free lifespan. If the HVAC system in the home you are planning to purchase was installed more than a decade ago, there is a good chance that it will need more frequent repairs or you may even have to replace the entire system soon. Ask the homeowner about the age of the system, but also ask the person you hire to do a home inspection to verify the age. 
• When was it last serviced? Regardless of the age of the HVAC system, neglect is also a large worry since poor maintenance can severely shorten a system's lifespan. Ask if the seller will show you service records, but remember that recent service isn't always a good thing as it may mean that there are already issues with the system. 
• What kind of system is it? Ask the seller about the home’s furnace. Is it oil or gas? Is it a single-stage system or a two-stage one? Does the home have central A/C or does it use mini-split units instead? Check out the brand of the HVAC components to determine if they are energy-efficient and whether replacing parts will be a struggle. Find out if the system is set up for zone heating and cooling and make sure that the thermostats are programmable. 

• What kind of warranty information is available? Warranties can save you a lot of money on repairs, so it is always a good idea to ask if the system has one. But just because it is under warranty doesn't mean that the warranty will transfer to a new owner. It is worth making a phone call to the manufacturer of the unit to find out. 
• How much will it cost to heat and cool the home? You don’t want to go through the shock of getting a huge bill from the utility company the month after you purchase a home. Ask the current homeowner how much it costs to heat and cool the home throughout the year and try to get copies of past bills from the winter and the summer. 

Don’t buy a home with a failing HVAC system. Do the smart thing and get a full HVAC inspection. Guaranteed Services can provide a full and independent inspection so you can make a smarter home-buying decision. Call 614-594-9423 to speak to an HVAC expert.