When it comes time to buy a new home or an old home that’s new to you, buyers are advised to commission a full inspection of the house to make sure they’re not investing in a home with a cracked or slipping foundation, a bad roof or termite-infested walls. If they’re investing in a brand new home, home inspectors should be concerned about poor construction practices and materials. However, there’s another area that also should be carefully inspected: the home’s heating and cooling system. Most home inspectors only check to see that each system turns on, but an HVAC inspection by a qualified technician will dig deeper to check for less obvious problems.
What Should an HVAC Inspection Cover?
- Heating and cooling systems: Over time, furnaces, A/Cs and heat pumps wear out. If they’re not properly maintained, they wear out more quickly. An HVAC inspection should make sure all systems are operational and safe.
- Ductwork: Ducts play an essential role in any forced-air cooling and heating system, and all too often, residential ducts are full of air leaks, lack proper insulation and are inefficiently design. Bad ducts can lead to significant energy loss in a home.
- Mold and other contaminants: Mold, mildew and bacteria are often an unhealthy by-product of a poorly maintained air conditioning system, and if it gets bad enough, mold can be difficult to eradicate. If mold gets into ductwork or around the indoor A/C coil, it can contaminate household air and threaten the health of vulnerable home occupants.
- Carbon monoxide (CO): An HVAC inspection should make sure that all combustion appliances, including the furnace, water heater and gas stove, are safely vented to the outdoors and have plenty of space to dissipate carbon monoxide if it does start leaking.
- Ventilation: Without effective ventilation, dirty, stale, humid air will accumulate inside. Your HVAC inspector should check for adequate ventilation throughout the house, including the attic.
To discuss scheduling an HVAC inspection for your new home, whether the house itself is old or new, contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide superior HVAC services in the Twin Cities area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC inspections and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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