There are so many things to consider when buying a new home. Are you happy with the kitchen cabinets? Do you think the half-bath in the lower-level will be large enough for your growing family? When shopping for that perfect home, you may place its aging heating and cooling system at the bottom of your wish list, but it’s definitely a home characteristic that deserves your attention. When deciding to purchase a home, it’s important to ask your Realtor® and the home inspector the right questions about its HVAC.

Older homes may have older furnaces that will soon require service or a replacement. A certified HVAC technician from Viviano can look at your furnace during the home inspection. Our technician can tell you the condition of the furnace and also advise you on any repairs or costs that may arise in the future. Your Realtor® can typically negotiate the price of the new home you are interested in purchasing based on the status of the home’s HVAC. Will a new system install be in the near future? Ask if the seller can come down in their home’s sale price to assist in its repairs or replacement.

It’s always a relief when the home’s HVAC system passes inspection, especially when you are looking at older homes in the neighborhood. It’s a great idea to have your furnace inspected on an annual basis, no matter what age the home is in. At Viviano, we offer a maintenance program that reminds you when an inspection is due. We’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system, making sure your heating and cooling system is operating at its peak efficiency. Visit our checklist on our website for more information on what our maintenance program covers: https://www.vivianoair.com/heating-cooling-services/maintenance-program.

If you do purchase an older home and it has a gas furnace, make it a priority to install a carbon monoxide monitor outside of every bedroom and even by the garage door entrance to the home. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can be omitted into the home by older furnaces, running cars in garages, fireplaces and more. Monitors are inexpensive and can save lives during the cold, winter season.

Air conditioning is another expense that can be unexpected as springtime hits if the older home only has window units or an older system installed. Ask your Realtor® if Viviano can provide a quote for a new air conditioning system prior to signing the contract on the dotted line. This is another expense that can be negotiated into the final sale price of the house. We can let you know the cost of installation, labor and equipment needed to stay cool as summer approaches.

At Viviano, we’ve been putting our customer’s comfort at the forefront since 1989, serving homeowners and businesses in the Metro-East for 30 years with quality products and services. If your new home doesn’t have an HVAC system that is working hard and costing you less, it’s time to call us at (618) 345-7498.