Building a new home is exciting and challenging, and offers the opportunity to start fresh and new with your own vision – but a poorly operating HVAC system can turn that new start into a horrible ending. A lot of focus in new homes is given to granite counter tops, marble tile and beautiful hardwood floors, but if your heating, cooling or ventilation is not working properly, your comfort level in the house will be compromised.

Heating and cooling issues are one of the most cited problems in newly-built properties. Some of the problems we’ve seen include:

• Extreme temperatures (either too hot or too cold)

• Significant temperature variance room-to-room

• Stale/stuff air

• Poor ventilation

• Extreme moisture (humidity) or dryness

• Health issues related to indoor air quality

Many people believe the building codes that pertain to HVAC systems protect them from these types of problems: they don’t! Why? Building codes do not ensure home comfort. What HVAC building codes ensure is safety – nothing more. Ensuring home comfort is only achieved if the home buyers protect themselves by setting specific requirements in place before building begins. Here are some tips on how to do this:

1. Include a clause in your Purchase and Sale agreement that you have the right to have the entire HVAC system inspected (and test if necessary) by your own independent HVAC expert prior to drywall being installed. If you are not satisfied with the HVAC system, you can either have repairs made at the builder’s expense or pull out of the deal.

2. Before taking legal possession of the home, ask the homebuilder for copies of the following:

• The municipal building inspector’s report

• Confirmation that all air ducts have been sealed

• The air balancing report

• The Heat Loss/Gain Calculation report (this report is used to determine the proper-sized furnace for your home)

Have an independent expert review these with you.

3. When thinking of upgrades for your newly-built home, consider including these items:

• The addition of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) for your furnace – this is a higher-efficiency furnace fan motor

• Sealing air ducts

• Having an air balance test conducted (if it hasn’t been done already)

• An air cleaner

• A humidifier

Your new home can be a wonderful asset for you and your family – don’t let it become a nightmare because of a faulty HVAC system. For more information on how we can help with your new home, call us today.