Home Inspection - Heating and Air Conditioning

When are examining the issues of home inspection, we can't think of anything more compelling than the fire hazards. However, the area that brings the most dread is that of the home inspection and the HVAC. This is an abbreviation for: Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning. The acronym may be strange to you if you are new to home inspections. You can trust us, the home inspector knows these systems are capital intensive (read: very expensive).

Of course each situation is a bit different, and there are things you can do to help an older system get along a little bit longer. Tcat has spent many a decade in generally milder climates than Gudrun. Given that, he is a big fan of the attic fan. (No pun intended).

An attic fan can give the HVAC system considerably less work to do on a warm summer day. And yes an attic fan can be of great help even in the wintertime. Consider the wet winters of the Pacific Northwest. The infamous dampness can contribute to wood rot. Even much of California can have a mold problem in the winter. An attic fan can reduce the trapped moisture just by moving some air through. And since the fan has no compressor or heating element, actual operational costs are very low.

This is not to say that a simple attic fan is a panacea. Yes it can lower operational costs for the air-conditioning and reduce the possibility of mold or rot issues. However, if the installation in the attic is sub par or deteriorated, a home inspector will be able to tell quickly by simply turning the attic fan on and looking for drafts around wall outlets and light switches.

So let's say, the home inspector report says the HVAC system is toast. No matter how you slice it, this is going to hurt. Gudrun has some suggestions on how to reduce the pain: First, she would like to point out an Energy Star furnace over 10 years can save approximately $2000 USD in fuel costs, with an energy conversion rate of 90% or higher. And an Energy Star HVAC system is good for the air you breathe too. So the EPA is happy because your system is creating less pollution, while using less energy. It was important enough to the feds to create a federal tax credit for energy efficiency.

If you recently did an HVAC upgrade, you may want to look up IRS Notice 2006-26. Neither of us is quite sure what new plans are in place for tax credits and energy efficiency. Were both very clear both the federal and state level a variety of proposals to promote energy efficiency are being crafted by the lawmakers.

Yeah, we get it. Being told by the home inspector big bucks got to get plunked down to replace an ancient HVAC system is going to hurt. And between the savings on the ever rising cost of energy, combined with possible tax credits, well it could lead to that situation known as, a blessing in disguise.

Come on! It's dark, stuffy and hot inside this little box of electronics. Not only that, we cannot hear you when you talk to us. Send us an e-mail to tell us what topics you would like to hear about. Feedback@ButterflyLister.com