If you’re considering selling your home, upgrades can significantly affect its value. Investing in a new HVAC system is one of the most effective ways to increase your home’s appeal and market price. Learn why upgrading your heating and cooling system can be a game-changer for resale value.
HVAC Features That Increase Home Value
A new HVAC system can add thousands of dollars to your home’s base selling price. Buyers often prioritize several features.
Home Buyers Want HVAC Systems With High Efficiency Ratings
Manufacturers design modern HVAC systems with energy efficiency in mind. Today’s systems meet strict federal standards aimed at minimizing fuel and electricity usage without sacrificing a comfortable home. These systems use cutting-edge technology to help reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. When upgrading your HVAC system to boost your home’s appeal to buyers, it’s essential to ensure it meets or exceeds the minimum federal efficiency standards.
As of 2024, the minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating for air conditioners is 14 in northern regions and 15 in the south. Furnaces must have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of at least 81%. Alternatively, air-source heat pumps must meet a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) of 8.8 or higher.
SEER measures the cooling output of an air conditioner over a season, with higher ratings indicating faster cooling and less energy usage. On the other hand, AFUE measures how efficiently a furnace or boiler converts fuel (natural gas, propane, or oil) into heat, with an 81% AFUE meaning that 81% of the fuel is converted into usable heat.
For heat pumps, HSPF measures the heat output during the heating season, providing an efficiency benchmark. It allows consumers to compare the performance of heat pumps to that of furnaces.
ENERGY STAR-certified HVAC models may be the most appealing to buyers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviews and verifies these products to ensure they meet rigorous energy efficiency standards. To earn the ENERGY STAR label, central air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 16. Alternatively, Mini-split systems must achieve an HSPF of at least 10 and a SEER of 20.
Climate Control
Potential buyers may be willing to pay a premium for your home if they know it offers a reliable and advanced climate control system. Cutting-edge technological features such as geofencing, zoning capabilities, and smart thermostats are great selling points.
Geofencing is a smart thermostat feature that creates a virtual boundary around your home. When your smartphone crosses this boundary, the thermostat adjusts the temperature based on preset preferences. This helps save energy by adjusting the temperature to an economical setting when you’re away and quickly returning it to a comfortable setting as you approach your home.
Zoning allows you to create separate temperature zones within your home, so areas like guest rooms or other rarely used spaces don’t require heating or cooling at the same level as the rest of the house. By redirecting airflow to the areas you use most, you can reduce energy consumption and extend the life of your HVAC system.
Smart thermostats bring convenience through remote control and automation. Homeowners can adjust the temperature via a smartphone app, schedule temperature changes, and receive energy usage reports, all of which help maximize efficiency and comfort.
Indoor Air Quality
Installing a whole-home air purification system or upgrading your existing one can significantly increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. These systems help remove allergens, dust, pet dander, and other pollutants from the air, creating a cleaner, healthier living environment.
Given the growing awareness of the importance of indoor air quality, many buyers view air purification systems as a valuable addition. Additionally, improving air quality can benefit individuals with respiratory issues, allergies, or asthma, making your home even more attractive to a broader audience. Investing in a system that includes HEPA filters, UV lights, or other advanced filtration technologies can further enhance your home’s value.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Newer, more efficient HVAC systems produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than older, traditional models. As environmental awareness rises, buyers are increasingly drawn to homes with energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that align with their sustainability values.
Additionally, federal energy standards tend to become more stringent over time. A modern HVAC system gives potential buyers confidence that your home complies with evolving regulations.
HVAC Systems Preferred by Homebuyers
When investing in a new HVAC system, it’s important to consider the types that potential homebuyers might prefer. Two of the most popular and trending options are heat pumps and ductless mini-split systems.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly option for conditioning a home. These systems provide both heating and cooling in a single unit, replacing the need for separate systems.
Heat pumps work by transferring heat rather than generating it. In colder months, they extract heat from the outside air or ground and move it inside to warm the home. During warmer months, they reverse the process, extracting heat from inside the home and releasing it outdoors.
This method of heat transfer makes heat pumps highly efficient, with the potential to reach up to 400% efficiency. In heating mode, they can deliver up to four times as much heat as the electricity they consume. In contrast, the most efficient furnace models typically achieve a maximum efficiency of around 95%.
There are two main types of heat pumps an HVAC professional can install in your home. Air-source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, also known as ground-source heat pumps.
Air-source heat pumps are the most common type but can become inefficient in heating mode in areas with severe winters. These systems rely on an auxiliary heating strip to supplement warmth when temperatures drop below freezing. This additional heating method consumes a significant amount of electricity, which can lead to higher heating costs.
Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the earth’s stable underground temperatures to provide efficient heating and cooling year-round. However, their upfront cost is high due to the complex installation process, which involves burying loops in the ground to transfer heat. While the initial investment is significant, a geothermal system may make your house stand out on the market.
Ductless Mini-Splits
Ductless mini-split systems are another popular HVAC system among home buyers. They don’t rely on ducts to distribute air. Instead, they feature an outdoor unit paired with multiple indoor units that can be installed in individual rooms or zones of the home. The units are connected by a small conduit containing electrical wiring, refrigerant lines, and a condensate drain line.
Ductless mini-splits allow for independent temperature control in each room, providing energy efficiency and personalized comfort. These systems will also appeal to buyers familiar with the energy losses and increased maintenance costs associated with ductwork.
Contact You Local Professionals
At Precision Heating & Air, we have served the residents of Dallas, GA and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. We install HVACs, repair, and maintain heating and cooling systems. Additionally, we can help with all your indoor quality needs, including installing whole-home air purification systems. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced technicians.
