Buying your first home is an exciting event, but there are also a lot of moving parts. Are there any hidden problems? Do the appliances seem like they’re holding up? A good thing for first-time home buyers to review is the condition of the house’s HVAC heating and cooling. A furnace that’s in particularly bad shape can sometimes be the difference between making an offer on a house and looking elsewhere.

So if you’re a first-time home buyer, what should be on your HVAC checklist? Let’s take a look at some of the key things you’ll want to know about the HVAC system.

What Should Be on Your HVAC Checklist?

Unless you’re already familiar with HVAC products, you may not know what to look for. Thankfully, there are a few pieces of information that can provide insight into the overall condition the HVAC equipment is in.

What year was the equipment manufactured and installed?

If you can, you’ll want to confirm when the make and model was first manufactured. Older models are sometimes less energy efficient and will often lack useful features available in new equipment. This should be fairly easy to find, but it’s also only half the information you want. You should also do your best to find out when the equipment was installed.

Even if an HVAC system was manufactured several years ago, the installation itself could have been more recent. Recent installations are more likely to be in great shape, particularly if routine maintenance has been provided.

What service company installed it?

This might not always be easy to verify, but the previous homeowner might have scheduled a tune-up or maintenance visit before putting the house up for sale. When this is the same service company that installed it, you can get an idea about the degree of service the HVAC equipment has received so far.

Has it received any routine maintenance?

Routine preventive maintenance is one of the best things you can do for HVAC equipment. Previous homeowners don’t always bother with it, which may leave the HVAC system at a greater risk of problems, especially if the HVAC system hasn’t even been on in a while. Routine maintenance can consist of everything from replacing the air filter to keeping important components clean and well-lubricated.

What ratings are available for your HVAC system?

Once you learn the make and model, you can do some online research. If there’s been a consistent problem or even something like a product recall, getting a new HVAC system may need to be factored into total costs. Otherwise, you could move in only to have a broken HVAC system before the last box is unpacked.

Choose a Trusted Service Company for Services like Maintenance

If you’ve found a problem with the home’s HVAC system, think about calling a trusted local service company before you decide against buying. They can perform a comprehensive inspection, determining the extent of existing issues and looking for any others. If the damage can be resolved with a simple tune-up, buying the house might still be worth it.

And there’s always the possibility the previous owner simply wasn’t aware of the problem. If there’s something impacting the HVAC system, it never hurts to ask if likely replacement costs can be factored into the cost of the home itself. In any case, the more info you have, the better decisions you can make.

Check Everything Off Your List with Miller Climate Control LLC

If you’re unsure about a possible dream home, don’t let some HVAC problems stop you. With a few key pieces of information, you can make a well-informed decision about purchasing your first home.

Remember to have a trustworthy service company in your corner. They can keep equipment functioning smoothly with repair and maintenance support. For quality local service, call Miller Climate Control LLC at 512-937-2001.