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What You Need To Know About HVAC Before Your Inspection
Fri 27 Apr 2007 - 15:34
What You Need To Know About HVAC Before Your Inspection
By Dan Calderwood
You will want to get your HVAC system inspected on several different occasions. You may have maintenance issues or you are buying a new house. Also, you will want to get your HVAC system inspected and maintained on a regular basis. Even the best system will break down and have issues that need to be addressed from time to time.
Most HVAC systems are designed to last at least 15 years or more now. However, when you are purchasing a home or having trouble with your system, an inspection is a good idea. If the home you are looking at is more than 10 years old, you may want to consider the price of a new HVAC system when making the offer on your home.
Before the inspection, you will need to make sure the utilities are turned on so that the system can be run for a period of time. A good inspector will not only turn on the system, but he will want to run the system long enough that it has time to effectively heat or cool the house. Allow two and a half hours to three hours for the inspection. Don't plan on using just your lunch hour for the inspection.
The inspector will should look at your outside unit, inside unit and inspect all of the ducting that it is possible for him to get to. Older homes have older systems and may not have the better ducting that has tighter seals. Hence, the ducting can become separated at the joints and be leaking air into your attic or crawl space. Heating or cooling this area is not an efficient use of your resources and can cause significant expenses over time.
You will want to spend a little time finding the right inspector. You may want to interview a few inspectors on the phone. The best method is to get a recommendation on an inspector from a trusted source. Home inspectors often include the HVAC system when they inspect the entire house. They normally do a decent job, but you may want to consider a specialist for inspecting the HVAC system. The savings they can produce from having your heating and cooling system running correctly will more than pay for the extra money spent.
You will want to walk with the inspector and take notes during the inspection. This makes sure the inspector takes the time to look at all the right items and you learn first hand what the issues are. Additionally, you should voice your concerns and ask questions during the inspection. You are paying for the inspection so make sure you are getting your money's worth. You don't need to understand the whole system, but you should know the basics. When the inspection is done, the inspector may give you a list of items that need repaired or replacing. If you have taken the time to be part of the inspection, you will understand what these repairs entail and know whether the costs are justified or not.
If your HVAC system needs replacing or major repairs, you may want to get a second opinion before spending the money. The added expense may save you from replacing a system that still has many years of use left.
Also, older systems do not burn as efficiently as the new systems. For example, many of the older systems only produce 65% of the heat from the gas while newer systems can extract 90% or better. The cost savings on the gas alone can justify a new system sometimes.
In summary, the HVAC system should be inspected before purchasing a new home and on a periodic basis. You will want to be at the inspection and understand the basics of the system. Remember that the ducting can be critical for savings on your system.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Calderwood
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