Buying a home? Our New Homeowners Guide covers the importance of thoroughly inspecting your HVAC system once you’ve moved in. Check out the menu before to skip ahead to a specific section:
1. I’m New to Home Ownership – What is an HVAC system?
2. Why You Should Get Your HVAC System Inspected As Soon As You Move In
– Common Problems You Might Encounter
– What To Expect From an Inspection
– Why Invest In a Maintenance Plan
3. How Service 1st Can Help
Continue reading below to learn more about your new home’s HVAC system and how you can ensure it runs safely and smoothly for your family. Or, if you have recently moved in to a new home in the Cambridge area and are in need of maintenance and inspection, contact the HVAC experts at Service 1st!
Hear From A Happy Service 1st Customer:
“Chris was a very professional and informative engineer. Very comprehensive inspection of our heating system. The receptionist was patient and carefully checking my information. Will definitely stay with the company for future services.”
Marvin Cheung, Google Reviews
New Homeowners Guide
Get The Most Out Of Your HVAC System!
I'm New To Home Ownership - What is an HVAC System?
If you have just recently purchased or moved into your first home, you probably haven’t paid a lot of attention to HVAC systems before. While most people are aware that HVAC systems exist in all buildings, you may not know exactly what they do, how they work, or even what “HVAC” stands for!
To start off, HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The HVAC system in your home includes all the products and pieces and parts that help cool your home down, heat it up, and circulate air within your home. Most homes in Ontario have a central air conditioner that sits outside the home, as well as a gas or propane central furnace typically in the basement, and ductwork that connects to both of these units and helps circulate hot/cool air around the home.
It’s hard to ignore your furnace and AC, but you may not pay a lot of attention to your ductwork. However, the ductwork in your home is a very important part of your home’s HVAC system. When you buy a new home in Canada, especially if the home is not too old, you will typically get a home with great insulation to help keep drafts out and protect against pests and outdoor pollutants.
However, airtight homes that have excellent insulation means that stagnant, indoor air doesn’t have anywhere to go if your ventilation system is not working properly. This stagnant air can have a build up of indoor pollutants, moisture and mould, and harmful gasses. A proper HVAC system, including clean and properly working ductwork ensures that you and your family are both safe and comfortable through all of the seasons.
Why You Should Get Your HVAC System Inspected & Maintained Once You Move In
New homeowners should get their HVAC systems inspected as soon as possible after moving in
Realtors will almost always recommend that you get an inspection done before you move into a new home if you can. There are some cases when buyers aren’t able to complete an inspection, either due to timeline issues or because the market was moving too quickly and requesting an inspection might very well mean losing out on a new home.
However, even if you were able to get an inspection done in the home, you should still contact a local HVAC company to do a thorough inspection and provide maintenance as soon as you’ve moved in. Why? Well, for starters, a home inspection only includes a very general inspection of every part of the home.
This includes all bathrooms and plumbing, foundation checks, checking for leaks and mould, potential problems with contaminants like asbestos, and so much more. Yes, they will of course look at your HVAC system…but it won’t be very thorough. They will likely tell you the age of your units, if they are working or not, and if there are any obvious problems. Other than that, you likely won’t know if the units need to be cleaned, if there are any minor problems, or if there is anything that is about to go wrong…but just hasn’t yet.
When you work with a local, professional HVAC company, you know they are the experts in the field. They will know how to provide a thorough inspection and give you detailed information about what they see – both the good and the bad.
Common Problems With HVAC Systems
When you move into a new home, it can feel overwhelming. Unless you build your own home or buy brand new, there are almost always surprise issues that pop up (and while less likely, can still happen in brand new homes!)
Choosing to get your HVAC system inspected as soon as you move in can help prevent these surprise issues from popping up at the least convenient time – like on the hottest day of the year, and your A/C suddenly stops working!
A professional technician can diagnose common problems with all parts of your HVAC system
When you move into a new home, you may discover that your HVAC system isn’t working exactly as it should. Here are some common issues that can occur with each part of your HVAC system.
Air Conditioners
- Not working at all (won’t turn on)
- Making strange/unusual noises
- Leaking fluid
- Thermostat issues (not connecting to unit)
- Physical damage to the unit
Furnaces
- Not working at all (won’t turn on)
- Making strange/unusual noises
- Not heating efficiently/uneven heat distribution
- Thermostat issues (not connecting to unit)
- Leaking gas, such as carbon monoxide (this is an EMERGENCY)
Ductwork
- Uneven distribution of airflow throughout home
- Mould growth and moisture
- Blockages
- Allergens built up in ducts (e.g. pet hair, dust)
What To Expect From Your Inspection
A professional HVAC technician will come to your home and inspect your units, ductwork, and other important components
When you choose to get an inspection done, it is usually part of a maintenance plan. Once you choose a professional HVAC company to work with, they will send out qualified and professional technicians to come to your home. Inspections typically take a few hours and are done by looking at all components of your HVAC system both inside and outside of your home.
Service 1st offers quality maintenance plans on all makes and models of gas and propane furnaces as well as central air conditioners. See below to find out more about what happens during an A/C and furnace inspection and routine maintenance.
What Happens During Air Conditioner Inspection & Maintenance:
✓ Cleaning & Calibrating the Thermostat
✓ Checking The Refrigerant Charge Levels
✓ Inspecting all Visible Refrigerant Lines For Leaks
✓ Inspecting & Monitoring The Starting Capabilities of the System
✓ Checking Volts & Amp Draw on Compressor and Motor
✓ Monitoring The Air Pressure For Proper Cooling
✓ Inspecting All Accessible Ductwork For Leaks
✓ Lubricating All Working Parts
✓ Checking For Any Fire Hazards
What Happens During Furnace Inspection & Maintenance:
✓ Checking the safety controls are functioning
✓ Looking at the heat exchanger (which can cause a carbon monoxide leak if damaged)
✓ Checking the ventilation system
✓ Inspecting the electrical components
✓ Assessing any noises or checking on strange sounds
✓ Testing for any presence of carbon monoxide
✓ Resealing exterior venting penetration (if needed)
✓ Checking & adjusting furnace gas pressure
As you can see from the list above, an inspection from Service 1st is extremely thorough. As a new homeowner, you likely don’t know much about your HVAC system – when it was last cleaned, inspected, or if it’s had any problems in the past. You don’t know how well the previous homeowners took care of your furnace or A/C, or if they’ve ever cleaned their ductwork. Working with a trusted HVAC company to check, clean, and inspect the units and HVAC system in your new home will help you learn more about the safety and functionality of these important systems in your home.
Why Invest in a Maintenance Plan?
A maintenance plan can help give you and your family peace of mind!
It’s important to choose to get an HVAC inspection done when you first move into your new home. But what about after that? Regular maintenance (typically, yearly maintenance) can help ensure that your existing units run smoothly and efficiently for many years to come.
New homeowners know that buying a new home is a BIG investment. When you buy a home, you buy everything it comes with, including the HVAC system. It’s best to invest in the proper maintenance of all of your new home’s appliances and systems right away to help you avoid surprise costs down the road.
A maintenance plan can help you avoid unwanted surprises and make things easier for you if something does go wrong. When you choose a maintenance plan with Service 1st, there are many other benefits including:
- After-hours emergency diagnostic calls included at no charge
- No overtime charges for repairs on weekends or holidays
- Up-front pricing on all repairs before any work is done
- 15% discount on furnace repair services
- 20% discount on furnace filter replacements
- Extends the life of your equipment
- Improved comfort and reliability
- Helps to reduce energy bills
Don't Stress About Your New Home.
Routine maintenance & inspections can help to ensure that your HVAC system is functioning properly and efficiently, so you don’t run into any problems down the road. When you choose to invest in our maintenance plan, we will:
✓ Inspect Thermostat Operations
✓ Clean & Inspect Important Pieces
✓ Check For liquid or Gas Leaks
✓ Test Motors, Fans, Contractors, etc.
✓ And Much More!
Are You a New Homeowner Who Needs an HVAC Inspection? Service 1st Can Help!
If you are a new homeowner and are in need of an HVAC inspection, we can help. Service 1st offers quality maintenance plans to homeowners who live in Cambridge and the surrounding areas. We value honesty, quality, and professionalism – see the reviews from some of our happy clients to learn more about what it’s like working with us!
Professional Service. Every Time.
At Service 1st, we have been serving homeowners in Cambridge and the surrounding areas for over 30 years and have a proven record of excellence. Whether you’ve just moved into a new home and need an inspection done or it’s time to replace your air conditioner or furnace, or simply want to learn more about our services, we can help.
We are a locally owned and operated business that prides itself on the highest quality work and installation of the highest quality products. We have received the prestigious Circle of Champions award from Bryant – an honour that highlights our commitment to quality, leadership, and excellence in the HVAC industry. We are an Elite Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer and offer our customers the highest quality products and services.
