There’s no question, the Dallas-Fort Worth housing market is hotter than ever and competition for inventory is fierce. According to Zillow, home values in Dallas are expected to increase 5.7 percent over the next year, compared to 2 percent nationwide. In light of today’s market, many do-it-yourselfers will opt to renovate older homes in order to keep budgets in check.
If you’re preparing to renovate an older home, assessing the health of the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is critical. We asked Frymire Comfort Specialist Keith Porter what steps homeowners should take upon themselves (DOs) or leave to the pros (DON’Ts) when renovating older homes.
1. DO assess the former homeowner’s maintenance habits.
According to Keith, “As you walk through the home, it’s usually easy to tell whether the former homeowner maintained the home in general and the HVAC system as well. If the home is in an obvious state of neglect, schedule an inspection of your heating and air conditioning system a.s.a.p.”
2. DO replace air filters and clean exterior A/C units now and regularly thereafter.
Regardless of the condition of the home, Keith recommends you should, “Replace dirty and cheap, 1-inch air filters, hose down the outdoor A/C unit to clear it of debris, make sure the unit sits level on a pad and that electrical connections are tight.”
Bonus Tip: Learn how to choose and properly replace your air filter here.
3. DON’T assume your home inspector thoroughly inspected your HVAC system.
Home inspectors aren’t trained in all of the ins and outs of HVAC systems. Even if the home appears to be in general good condition, you should rely on an HVAC specialist to look inside the system, inspect the coils and blower system, as well as check for mold, evidence of animal intrusion and allergens.
“A trained HVAC technician can safely open the blower assembly to check for debris and inspect the evaporator coil. Cleaning the evaporator should be left to the pros, because there are a number of components that could be damaged if you don’t know what you’re doing. ” Keith says.
Bonus Tip: Check out this HVAC Maintenance Checklist to learn more tips for maintaining your A/C system.
4. DON’T “play” electrician, just DON’T.
With more than 20 years in the HVAC industry, Keith has seen many homeowners pay the price for this mistake. “Changing a thermostat may seem simple, but if you don’t turn off the electricity, you could blow a transformer or fuse, and you can damage the control board if you wire it improperly. If you don’t have experience working with electricity, just call a professional,” urges Keith.
5. DO talk with an HVAC specialist about air quality concerns.
Old and/or improperly maintained heating and air conditioning systems wreak havoc on allergies. According to Keith, “If the previous homeowner had pets or smoked, there could be hidden allergens in the duct work that trigger allergies. Along with replacing air filters every other month, we recommend homeowners have duct work evaluated during the system inspection to help keep allergies at bay.”
Bonus Tip: This recent post is loaded with tips to ease allergies and alleviate triggers in your home.
6. DON’T obstruct air supply and return vents with furniture, boxes, etc.
Many homeowners make the mistake of covering up a return with a piece of furniture, which prevents it from pulling enough air from that location. That could force your equipment to pull air from a weak spot in the system, which in some older homes may be the attic.
According to Keith, “If you pull attic air into the system, it works harder, because the air hasn’t been tempered to a lower temp. If that happens on a day when it’s 100+ degrees outside, the system will be forced to cool 150 degree air vs. 75 degree air, so it has to do more work to cool your home.”
7. DO be mindful of airflow and ductwork when modifying or adding space to your home.
“A common issue during home modifications, whether you DIY or have contractors come in, is returns get moved, blocked or opened up into the attic. If you are planning an addition or find problems after a construction or electrical contractor has been to your home, let your HVAC technician know. He or she can help you formulate a plan beforehand or recommend a fix when ductwork has been compromised,” advises Keith.
8. DO plan and budget for replacing your HVAC system in advance.
When you get close to that 10-year mark, start budgeting for replacement, even if your system still works fine. Keith recommends, “When you’re on the tail end of the expected life of the system (10 to 15 years), you don’t want to get hit with an $8-12K surprise, especially if money is tight. Plus, your system loses efficiency (and you’ll spend more in energy costs) over time. Typically a 10-year old HVAC system has lost 30 percent of its efficiency.”
9. DO pay attention to sights, sounds and performance issues.
“If the outside air conditioning unit is overly rusty and making a lot of noise, or the inside equipment gets noisy when the fan runs, these are obvious signs the system isn’t working right. If it’s a 95-degree day and the system is running all day and you can’t get the temperature below 80, when the house is sealed up tight, it isn’t performing efficiently. Call your HVAC specialist for an air conditioning inspection and repair,” Keith says.
Kick Off Your Home Renovation on the Right Foot
A healthy, efficient HVAC system can help keep your home comfortable and provide significant energy savings over time. If you’re renovating an older home, don’t assume that your heating and air conditioning system is working up to its potential. Contact a reputable HVAC specialist to analyze your system and recommend a short- and long-term maintenance, repair and replacement plan.
DFW DIY-ers – We’re Here to Help!
If you have questions about your HVAC system during a renovation or want to schedule heating, air conditioning or plumbing maintenance and repair in the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex, call 1-877-FRYMIRE today.