When you get into the final stages of deciding to purchase a home in the Las Vegas area, it can be very exciting. While you likely just want to get the keys and move in, it’s important that you ask various questions to ensure that the home is in good condition. Some of these questions should be inquiring about the home’s HVAC system.
When Was It Installed?
One of the first things that you want to know when you’re inquiring about an HVAC system in a home is when it was installed. Most HVAC systems will last between 15 to 20 years. When you’re buying a home, it’s essential to know how old the system is as you may need to budget for replacing it soon. Make sure that you verify the dates on the furnace to ensure that it’s accurate with what the current homeowner is telling you.
How Often Did It Get Preventative Maintenance and by Who?
It’s a general rule of thumb that every heating system should be serviced at least once a year. The service should be done by a professional to ensure that it’s done correctly. You want to ask the current homeowner how often they had maintenance performed on the system and who did it.
If they do have service records from an industry professional, you should ask if you can have copies of those records. It’s highly likely that you’ll need them in the future if you need any warranty work performed on the system.
Is There a Warranty Contract on It and Through Who?
Most residential HVAC systems have a warranty of up to 10 years. You should be asking the current homeowner whether they still have a warranty contract on their HVAC system. If they do, ask them if you can get a copy of the contract or at least the information for who the contract is through.
In most situations, the warranty contract is going to be through the manufacturer of the unit. It’s crucial to realize that sometimes the system warranty will not transfer over to a new owner of the house. For this reason, it’s a good idea to contact the issuer of the warranty to determine whether they will transfer the warranty over.
What Issues Have You Had With It?
Having issues with an HVAC system is not uncommon for homeowners. You should be inquiring with the existing homeowners about what type of problems they’ve had with their HVAC system in the past. This will give you some insight into any existing problems that you may need to deal with. It will also allow you to know which parts are new on your system. Make sure you also get information about who did the repair so that you can contact them if there’s a problem going into the future.
Does It Adequately Heat Your Home?
It’s not uncommon for heating systems in older homes not to be able to completely heat a home adequately. This could be due to improper ductwork installation or putting additions on to the home. Either way, it’s best to check with the current homeowner to see if there are certain rooms that don’t get warm enough. This way, you can decide whether you want to do any additional work to the HVAC system before you move in.
Where Is the Air Filter Housing?
Every HVAC system needs to have its air filter replaced every few months. It’s highly advisable that you ask the current homeowner where the air filter housing is at. If they can tell you directly where it’s at, this is a pretty good indication that they have changed the filter regularly. You want to know where the filter housing is so that you can change your filter every couple of months.
You may want to ask them what the model number is and what type of filter that they’ve been running in the system. This can give you some insight on whether you want to continue to run the same type of filter that they were running or if you should consider upgrading to a filter with more filtering capacity.
Reliable Heating Services
Fast Response Services provides reliable heating services for the entire Las Vegas, NV region. We’re also here for all your cooling, air quality, water heater, thermostat, and ducting needs. Call us today to get the help that you need!
