You’ve probably thought long and hard about purchasing or building an office space for your business. In doing so, you undoubtedly have quite a lot on your mind, but one thing you must not overlook is your business’s heating and cooling needs. An HVAC unit is essential to keeping you, your employees and your customers comfortable while inside your establishment.
Chances are, if you’ve always been a renter you may have never had to deal with heating and air conditioning issues yourself, except maybe to call maintenance when something went wrong. Therefore, it may come as a shock that purchasing a new furnace could run you anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000, and an A/C unit may set you back a further $3,500 to $10,000.
Costs as high as these can pack a wallop to a new business owner, which means you’ll want to closely inspect the building’s HVAC unit before purchasing.
Below you’ll find a list of suggestions on how to avoid purchasing a HVAC unit past its prime.
HVAC Units and Ducts
First, you should do a simple spot check of the heating and cooling elements. Look specifically for rust, decay or watermarks, and listen for any unusual noises coming from the unit.
Next, inquire about the age of the HVAC system. If the A/C or heat pump is more than 10 years old, or the furnace more than 15 years old, keep in mind that you’ll probably need a replacement in the near future. In the event that the HVAC unit is old, you should consider discussing whether you can get a lower purchase price (to offset the price of installing a new unit) or having the unit replaced before purchasing the building.
If the HVAC unit needs to be replaced, don’t put it off or else you’ll end up paying more down the road for costly repairs in addition to a new unit. Plus, having a newer, energy efficient HVAC system will help lower your utility bills.
After evaluating the unit, check the ductwork, paying close attention to the ones that run directly into the HVAC unit. Insufficient ducts can be leaky, improperly sized or appear rusty and covered in condensation or loose debris.
If you don’t feel comfortable evaluating a building’s HVAC system yourself, Gagne’s licensed HVAC contractors in are here to help Atlanta area businesses in need of routine maintenance, emergency repair or full-point inspections. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
We also invite you to check out our HVAC blog and knowledge center.