Becoming a new homeowner is an exciting and memorable time. You’ve found the perfect place to call home, and now you want to dress it up. Most new homeowners charge right into cosmetic changes, like painting those hideous green walls or hanging curtains. However, some of the most important projects to tackle aren’t visible at first glance. If you take the time to check out the health of your new home’s systems and environment now, you’ll be laying the foundation for many healthy, happy years to come.
Put Your HVAC Unit Through a Stress Test
When you purchase an older home, it’s especially important to assess and troubleshoot the HVAC system you’ve inherited. Issues with HVAC systems are one of the most frequently overlooked problems of home inspections. In extreme weather conditions, sometimes home inspectors hesitate to tax the HVAC system for fear of overloading it. Therefore, the brief tests conducted by the home inspector don’t always reflect an accurate view of the system’s performance. You may find that an outdated system will fail in extreme heat or cold once you move in. For the energy conscious, buying a new home might be a good time to evaluate the previous system’s energy rating and upgrade to a new system that will save you money and will be more efficient in the long run.
Evaluate the Air Quality
In older buildings and enclosed environments lacking mechanical ventilation, it is vital to maintain a system that purifies the air, rather than circulating contaminants. Allergy and asthma sufferers should triple check that all air ducts have been thoroughly cleaned, so that leftover dust and animal dander does not exacerbate their sensitivity. This is particularly important if you have small children, since studies show that prolonged exposure to allergens such as dust mites makes children more prone to developing asthma. Bring in an HVAC tech to evaluate the situation and to help you optimize your environment. You can also ask them to check for mold in unexpected places that the home inspector might have missed, like under the carpets.
Clean Up and Prevent Pest Problems
More than an unpleasant and disturbing nuisance, pests pose a serious health risk. Pests like mosquitos and rats carry serious diseases, and the saliva and droppings of cockroaches can cause severe allergy reactions. Even if the pests are no longer on the premises, you should still call in an exterminating company for an initial visit. These professionals can spray as a preventative measure, as the first of many annual visits to maintain and monitor your property. Secondly, call in a cleaning crew to deep clean your new home, ensuring that any lingering residue from previous pests will be swept away. You’ll appreciate the peace of mind, not to mention that it’s a great feeling to move into a sparkling new home without having to do it yourself.
Now that your house is clean and safe, you can breathe easy and enter into full-nesting mode. Unpack those boxes, decorate, and go about making your house a home.
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