As a first-time home buyer, it's advisable to only consider homes that have been professionally inspected. That said, many home inspectors aren't familiar enough with HVAC systems to make accurate reports. Follow up with your own HVAC questions, consult an HVAC contractor if needed, and consider the following tips:
HVAC Tips for the First-Time Home Buyer
Types of HVAC systems - First item on the agenda is to familiarize yourself with the HVAC system. Is the heating system a natural gas furnace, oil furnace, boiler, or dual-fuel system? Is a split-system heat pump or A/C used for home cooling?
System age - If the homeowner or realtor doesn't know the age of the HVAC system, contact the manufacturer with the model number to find out the age of the heating and cooling systems. Generally speaking, if the furnace is more than 12 years old and the heat pump or A/C are more than 10 years old, consider the expense to your pocketbook to replace them in the near future—especially if professional maintenance wasn't performed semi-annually.
Add-on systems - Add-on systems can greatly enhance home comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Find out if the HVAC system includes a zoning system, whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier, a ventilation system, WiFi thermostat, and air-purification system. Zoning systems and ventilation systems, for example, are going to provide you enhanced comfort.
Transferable Warranty - If the HVAC system is new or only a few years old, ask to see the warranty. Check if the warranty is transferable. This will give you peace of mind for the remainder.
Maintenance report - Regular professional HVAC maintenance is vital to maximize efficiency and to extend HVAC lifespan. If a homeowner has been mindful to schedule regular maintenance, they probably kept all records. Review the records to learn the HVAC system's history.
Ductwork - Don't forget the air ducts. Ask for the latest ductwork inspection. Poor duct design and leaky ducts will cost you substantially in higher energy bills.
If you're a first-time home buyer, it pays to consult a professional to perform an HVAC evaluation. For more information, please contact Air Assurance today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Credit/Copyright Attribution: “www.BillionPhotos.com/Shutterstock”
The Best Quote for Your HVAC Installation: How Do You Choose?
So, you followed our advice and sought various quotes from different contractors for your upcoming HVAC installation. Great work! Now, it's time to sit down with those quotes and suss out who will provide the best work and quality equipment for the price. Easier said than done.Here are some tips for how to choose the best quote for your HVAC system's installation.
No lazy inspections. Take a moment to remember your initial meetings with prospective contractors. Did they perform a thorough inspection of your existing HVAC system and your home? You can rule out any quote(s) from contractors who did a short, sight-only inspection as there is slim chance their quote is accurate. HVAC contractors need to inspect your HVAC system, insulation, and your home to get accurate load calculations from Manuals J and S. This ensures the new equipment is sized properly.
Paper, please. Your quotes should be presented on official letterhead, pre-printed bid forms, etc., that have the company's name, address and license number at the top. If you got your quote over the phone, you can skip that one. You need written information to make a comprehensive comparison.
It's all in the details. Are the quotes detailed? If there is a quote that looks good, but is broken into two prices: parts and labor, without any itemized listing of parts, equipment and installation procedures, it might not be the best one. If your contractors all have nicely detailed, itemized pricing you'll be able to make line by line comparisons.
Warranty information. Have they included critical warranty information? You can go online to research the warranty specifications for an individual piece of HVAC equipment, but every company has their own set of warranties for parts and labor. While first time costs are important, your focus should be set on lifetime costs. Perhaps a company that has slightly higher charges for parts or labor also offers more extended warranties. Good warranties are worth paying extra for.
Interested in receiving a competitive quote for your upcoming HVAC installation? Contact Air Assurance. We always provide reliable quotes to Tulsa area homeowners.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
