When the HVAC technician came to the house to look at our furnace, we had no reason to believe he wasn’t telling the truth. We knew there was a problem with our furnace, but we didn’t know how serious it was. So, when the HVAC technician told us our furnace was shot, and we needed a new one, we believed him. The only reason we asked for another opinion was because the price he quoted us was higher than we had thought it should be. I will admit that the HVAC technician got a bit upset with us for asking for a second opinion, but I didn’t care. We were the ones putting out the money, and not him. I was fairly certain he was getting a commission on HVAC equipment, and even on the maintenance agreement he wanted to sell us. After he left, I called the HVAC company and asked for a second opinion on the furnace. The next day, they sent an HVAC contractor to the house. He told us we could get away with using the furnace for another year, but he suggestion we gave serious thought to getting a new one in the spring. I liked this opinion better. This gave us time to put some money back and we wouldn’t need to dip into our savings for a new furnace. He gave us a quote on what it may cost in the spring, but he said the prices on the furnace could go up. We thanked him again and started looking around to see what kind of heating system we wanted when spring arrived.
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I have ductwork. Can I still have ductless HVAC installed?
For years, my husband and I had been trying to find an HVAC system that would work in our area and would eliminate the need for ductwork.
Ductwork is always so dirty, and we knew that when it was time for a new HVAC system, we didn’t want to use the ductwork. We were sure if it would best to remove the old ductwork, or just cap it off, so we opted to call the HVAC company. When I talked to them, they told me they would send an HVAC technician to the house to check out the situation. When he arrived, my husband and I told him we were considering having a heat pump installed. He told us that heat pumps are highly efficient and less work than traditional HVAC systems. There was no need for the air vents in the floor, which took up a lot of living space. We knew all this, and just wanted to know one thing. We have ductwork. Can we still have ductless HVAC installed? He let us know we could have the ductwork capped off, and there would be no need to remove the old ductwork. We asked him to give us a quote on a mini split ductless HVAC system. He told us we would need to talk to an HVAC contractor, which made us happy to hear. It made us feel like he was seriously talking about our finally getting a heat pump in our home. Two weeks later, the HVAC contractor was inspecting our home and discussing how many indoor units we would need to keep our house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Why didn’t we have our HVAC inspections done?
I looked at my husband and told him we should have had the HVAC inspections done instead of believing the realtor
Right before we bought our home, our realtor told us there was a new HVAC system installed in the house and said we could save ourselves a thousand dollars if we didn’t have the HVAC inspections done. I knew the realtor was working for us and the seller, and I had a niggling suspicion she was working more for the seller than for us. She seemed to be quite chummy with the sellers, and very businesslike with us. My husband thought it was a decent request, and we didn’t have the HVAC inspections completed. After we completed the closings, we had everything packed and ready to move in. Within two months, we called the HVAC company and asked to have the furnace serviced before winter arrived. When the HVAC technician came to the house, he asked if we had the furnace replaced. We told him the realtor assured us the previous owners had a new HVAC system installed. He simply said it was news to him and went downstairs. He told us that was the same HVAC system they had suggested be replaced before winter arrived. The furnace couldn’t be repaired anymore, and trying to try could cause a lot of adverse effects. I looked at my husband and told him we should have had the HVAC inspections done instead of believing the realtor. The HVAC technician gave us the name of the realtor we used. I nodded, and he said she was the sister of the owner of the house. Within two minutes, I was on the phone with the lawyer who handled our closings and reading the clause where it specifically stated they had installed a new HVAC system the previous year.
We should have looked at the house before taking it.
My husband’s aunt passed away and willed us her house.
He remembered the house from when he was a kid, and he romanticized it as being a Gone With the Wind house.
He said it was the perfect plantation home, and he always wished he could live in it. We were only renting a house, but I wanted to see this old plantation before taking it. He was insisting we move to the house, and do work that may be needed while living there. Two months later, we packed up our belongings, refused to resign the lease, and headed to our new home. I knew we were making a mistake, but there was little I could do. My heart sank when I saw the house. It was in total disrepair, and I didn’t see any sign of electricity or plumbing. There were water closets, but no true bathrooms, and there was no HVAC in the house. We had to move in with his parents while waiting for a contractor. Along with a general contractor, we needed an electrician, a plumber, well driller, and an HVAC contractor. The house was going to cost all of our savings and substantial home mortgage to make it livable. It was also going to take at least six months’ time. The plumbing, electricity, and well, was the least of our worries. The HVAC system was going to cost considerably more than we had expected. Along with the HVAC equipment, we needed ductwork. My husband asked the HVAC contractor about having a heat pump installed. He told us it was doable, and it would cost half the price of traditional HVAC. I liked it would take a couple of weeks as opposed to several months and a lot of dirt to have it installed.