New Home Buyer Tips for Vancouver BC

So you’re interested in buying a home in Vancouver BC but are unsure of what to look for, inspect, or ask the seller about regarding the heating/air conditioning system in the home. We’ve put together a quick list of things to help you get as much important information up front as possible.

Type of  System

The most common type of heating system in the greater Vancouver area is forced air gas furnace. Although there are also homes heated by boiler systems or heat pumps. It’s important that you know upfront the system type for both energy costs and maintenance.

Energy Rating and Efficiency

Today the cost of energy is something we all need to consider when it comes to cost of living expenses. The last thing you want is to buy a home only to find out later, that the system uses large amounts energy or inadequately heats the home. While viewing any potential new property, it’s best to find out the model numbers on all major home equipment and do a bit of research. Often furnaces in older homes waste huge amounts of energy and can end up costing you much more than you anticipated.  This also applies to water heaters and air conditioning systems. We recommend getting model numbers on all the equipment in the home to find out as much information as possible.

Age of Equipment

Appearances can be deceiving! Upon first glance something like a forced air furnace can look relatively new but in actual fact be more than 10 or 15 years old. The lifetime of a unit often depends on how well it’s been maintained. Find out just how old everything in the home is. If anything is older than 10 years old, you may have to factor in the cost of replacing it soon should you decide to buy.

Maintenance and Warranty Records

Over the years we have seen relatively new home equipment such as furnaces, which have never been maintained end up needing replacing long before they should. This happens when the previous home owner failed to maintain it properly. When buying any type of home, you should always ask to see records of both maintenance and warranty. Have the filters been changed regularly? Have the ducts and vents been upkept with scheduled cleanings? Has the hot water system had any repairs? All of these questions are important to get answers to and can save you huge amounts of money! It’s better to know what you’re getting into rather than having initial expenses such as a new furnace right of the start.

Get a Quote on Repairs or New Installation

Call the experts at Pro Ace Heating and Cooling at 604-293-3770 if you need to get a qualified estimate for repairs, service, or new installation.