Buying a new home is one of the biggest financial decisions you could ever make. It’s important that your new home can check off all of those things on your ‘must-have’ list. Whether it’s a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms, an outdoor space or specific systems like a central air conditioner, be sure that you’re satisfied with what you’re getting when you make that offer.
Is it common for homes to have air conditioners?
Newer homes, especially if they are built in the last 10-20 years, should have an air conditioning unit either installed separately or as part of the overall heating and cooling system. It is less common in older homes.
If you’re looking to install or upgrade to a more energy efficient air conditioning system, there are some important factors to consider. If one of Edmonton’s air conditioning companies has to install new ducting for the system, it could get expensive. In homes that were built before air conditioning became standard, the walls and ceiling may be poorly shaped and might make installing a new system difficult. This is something you can ask your home inspector about.
Photo Credit: Romaniuk Heating and Air Conditioning
If the home has AC, make sure it works!
It’s common to forget to check if the AC works when you purchase a car in the winter or if the heat works if you’re test driving under a hot summer sun. The same goes for the heating and air conditioning system in a house. If you’re looking at homes during the colder months and AC is important to you, ask the realtor or home inspector to fire it up and make sure it actually works.
Assuming it turns on without issue, let it run for a full cycle and while it’s running check for:
- Strange noises. Rattling or buzzing could mean the indoor blower motor needs to be replaced or that the outdoor fan blade is bent. In most cases a simple tightening will do the trick or you might need a new fan motor or blade.
- Water near the HVAC system. This means there is a blockage in a water line, that there’s a disconnected tube or that the sump pump isn’t working properly.
- Cold air. If the air coming out of the registers doesn’t feel that cold, it could mean a number of things. The outdoor refrigerant lines might not be insulated, the air filter might need replacing or there could be debris blocking the condenser for air flow.
If it doesn’t come on at all, then you may have a bigger problem. If an air conditioner is really important to you and you want to know more, you should contact HVAC company in Edmonton for advice. A willing home seller should permit an inspection of the unit prior to the sale.
Photo Credit: Furnace Solutions
Pair heating with cooling to save money.
If you’re purchasing a home that was built within the last 10 years, it likely has a high efficiency furnace and upgraded ducting. If this is the case, the expense of upgrading or installing a central air conditioner will be less. This is because the most common cooling system can be set up to use the existing ducts that are currently being used by the furnace.
It’s still important to consult with one of Edmonton’s best furnace repair companies to ensure that the current duct work is up to snuff and ready to handle a year-round work load. They will also be able to tell you if a heating and cooling split system has already been install.
Be prepared to invest in regular air conditioner maintenance.
Even if you find a dream home that has a high-efficiency air conditioning system, it doesn’t mean you won’t have to be prepared for regular maintenance and future repairs. You never know how often or how well the heating and cooling system was serviced by the previous owner and even if they were meticulous it will still need regular service. Learn more about basic air conditioner maintenance and be sure to have an HVAC technician inspect your system annually. Also, as the new owner of an air conditioner, you should learn how home air conditioning systems work.
Comments(1)