Increase the Resale Value of Your Home with HVAC Upgrades
July 27, 2018
Planning to sell your home in the near future? Now is the time to think about features and upgrades that can increase your resale value. One of the easiest upgrades is your HVAC system!
When it comes to HVAC upgrades, you have many options ranging from tune-ups and new parts to complete system replacements. If you’re not sure which option is best for your home, talk to a friendly One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Pittsburgh technician. We’re happy to field any questions!
1. A New HVAC System
Is your HVAC system outdated? That alone could detract potential buyers — especially today when energy-efficient systems are the new standard. In fact, heating and cooling account for 48% of energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes.
If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, consider these heating system saving stats from Energy Star. The efficiency of older furnace and boiler systems ranges from 56% to 70%. Modern heating systems, however, can achieve up to 99% efficiency. A new, energy-efficient system converts nearly all the fuel to useful heat for your home. Home energy efficiency upgrades and a new high-efficiency heating system can even cut your bills in half. That type of savings slash can be factored into home resale value.
2. New HVAC Components
If you have an older central air conditioner, you might choose to replace the outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency unit.
However, considering recent changes in refrigerants and air conditioning designs, it might be wiser to replace the entire system to increase resale value. Today’s best air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid-1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.
3. Heated Floors & Radiant Heating
Cold-climate buyers are drawn to radiant heating, most commonly in the form of heated floors. Zillow lists this feature among their top home improvement projects most likely to add value to your home.
In a radiant floor heating system, warm water flows through plastic tubing located underneath or within the floors. The heat source in a radiant floor heating system is typically a boiler or a hot-water heater. The cost per square foot depends on the space you plan to heat and whether you choose electric or hydronic heating.
4. Heating and Cooling Tune-Up
At the very least, potential home sellers should ALWAYS assess the condition their HVAC system is in. The last thing you need is a broken AC during an open house! Or a rattling, banging furnace when the home inspector shows up at your door. In short — a little preventative maintenance goes a long way!
Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Pittsburgh for an HVAC tune-up today. We’ll check for wear and tear along with possible emergency symptoms. If there are any components that need to be fixed or replaced, our technician can swap them out on the spot.