When you’re buying a house, the HVAC system probably doesn’t top your list of features you’re concerned about. However, your comfort and energy bills primarily depend on HVAC system quality and features installed. Use these HVAC fact-finding tips to help you make a more informed home-buying decision.
System Types
When buying a house in the Mid-Atlantic region, you certainly want to know the type of heating system in the home. Gas furnaces are the most common heating systems, and gas connections are most places nowadays.
Don’t overlook the cooling unit. Does the home have a rooftop packaged A/C system or a split system with a large cabinet next to the foundation? With older homes, you always have the option of installing ductless mini-split units if no cooling system is installed.
HVAC Condition
Ask your realtor or homeowner the age of the cooling and heating systems and any accompanying documentation and maintenance records. If the furnace and/or the A/C are older than 10 years, factor the replacement cost into your purchase decision.
Energy Sources
Consider the energy sources for the heating and cooling units. Does the heating system use natural gas, oil, or propane? If the home has a heat pump, is the backup heating source natural gas or electricity? Furnaces that use natural gas tend to save energy costs over the long haul.
Energy Efficiency
Newer HVAC systems deliver substantially greater energy efficiency than those manufactured just 15 or 20 years ago. Check the AFUE (furnace and boiler) and SEER (A/C) ratings. An AFUE of 90 or greater is exceptional, and look for at least a SEER 16 for the A/C unit.
Add-on Systems
Add-on systems substantially increase your comfort and lower energy bills. For example, a whole-home humidifier makes your home more comfortable during winter. Whole-home ventilation helps improve comfort and energy savings throughout the year.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
Old buildings are beautiful, but they are often riddled with infrastructure problems, such as aging pipes. By keeping an eye on signs of plumbing problems, you can fix the issue before it leads to expensive water damage.
There are miles of piping inside of our walls, floors, and ceilings, giving us access to clean water while taking away waste we don’t want. And they are working 24/7, even when we’re sleeping.
Unfortunately, we tend to forget about all the pipes inside and underneath our homes. But if they don’t receive adequate attention, you’ll soon be forced to take notice. Think wet spots, mold, low water pressure, and cracked and busted pipes.
Plumbing maintenance from a team of professionals can routinely assess your plumbing systems for any signs of premature failure, but it’s important to know how to recognize the signs of an aging or failing plumbing system yourself.
One small failure, such as a pipe leak, can permanently damage the foundation and original structure as well as valued possessions, such as art, musical instruments, and furniture.
Some signs of an aging plumbing system in need of repair or replacement include:
One way you can tell if you have a plumbing leak is if your water bill starts to rise without any obvious reason. Even small leaks can cause extensive damage. If you suspect a leak in your plumbing system, contact a professional to find the leak and fix it.
Aging plumbing systems should be replaced before problems develop. If you have any questions about the status of your plumbing system, contact Sobieski Services for inspection, repairs, or replacement. We can use non-invasive technology, such as pipe bursting and epoxy coating to replace your pipes with hardly any disruption to your home or routine.
Don’t wait for a plumbing emergency — contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert plumbers in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.