Homeowners: How HVAC Systems Can Affect Your Sale Price
Selling your home in South Carolina typically comes with a long laundry list of things to do in an effort to increase your sale price as much as possible. Most homeowners know that aesthetic repairs like fresh paint often have a significant impact on the sale price, but most don’t know that their HVAC system repair can also provide an excellent return on investment.
Below, we’ll discuss common HVAC issues and how to use your heating and cooling system to get the most out of your sale. We’ll also provide average costs of HVAC maintenance in South Carolina, which can help you determine if repair or replacement is a better option in your home.
Common HVAC Issues in South Carolina
HVAC problems can occur anywhere, but homes in South Carolina, especially near the coast, are at increased risk of issues. Below are some of the most common HVAC problems in South Carolina, along with the average cost of repair.
Damaged Refrigerant Lines
One of the most common HVAC problems in South Carolina is damaged refrigerant lines. These lines circulate freon or “Puron” within your outdoor unit to provide heat exchange for indoor air conditioning.
Refrigerant lines can quickly become damaged by landscaping equipment or children. However, fallen tree limbs and heavy winds during South Carolina’s hurricane season put them at heightened risk. When refrigerant lines are damaged, the condenser will run inefficiently and may fail to work altogether.
Cost of Repair: Is It Worth It?
Replacing refrigerant lines in South Carolina typically costs between $300 and $550. Given the relatively low repair cost and the increased indoor comfort and efficiency you’ll experience after the fix, it’s generally worth it to complete this repair before you sell.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
Evaporator coils are typically housed within the air handler, your indoor HVAC unit. These coils control evaporation and condensation to allow for heat transfer before conditioned air is pushed through your ductwork.
Unfortunately, these coils can freeze for a variety of reasons, including reduced airflow from clogged filters, damaged blower motors, and clogged condensate lines. In South Carolina, the subtropical climate lends itself to high, year-round humidity, especially on and near the coast.
The condensate line can much more easily become clogged as large volumes of moisture are taken out of the air, condensed, and drained through the pipe. When the condensate line fails to drain properly, the evaporator coils can easily freeze over.
Symptoms of frozen evaporator coils include warm air coming from your air conditioner and insufficient airflow.
Cost of Repair: Is It Worth It?
If your evaporator coils are frozen, thawing them and clearing the condensate drain is one possible solution. This typically costs around $300-400 in South Carolina, so it’s almost always worth the investment before selling your home.
However, frozen coils can quickly lead to additional damage, like the condenser burning out as it runs continuously to try to keep up with demand despite the frozen coils. If repair is possible, you’re likely looking at around $800-1,200. Replacing a condenser usually costs approximately $3,000 in South Carolina.
Buyers will likely be willing to pay more for a home where they know the HVAC condenser was recently replaced, so you might see a better return on investment with a complete replacement.
Damaged Blower Motor
The blower motor in your HVAC system sits in your indoor air handler and moves air from the cooling chamber through the ductwork in your home. It’s a crucial piece of equipment that’s solely responsible for the airflow and conditioning of the indoor air.
Blower motors in South Carolina are under immense stress, as most residents call for conditioned air in their homes year-round. Intense summer temperatures, especially near the coast, put a lot of wear and tear on the blower motor. Blower motors in the area also get stressed and become damaged when airflow is restricted. This is a common occurrence in South Carolina, where air filters get clogged easily from constant use.
Cost of Repair: Is It Worth It?
Blown blower motors typically need to be replaced to restore working order to your HVAC system. Replacing damaged motors can total between $3,000 and $5,000.
If you’re faced with this repair total, you’ll likely get a better return on investment from replacing your HVAC system in its entirety. Replacement averages around $7,000 in South Carolina, and buyers tend to pay more for a home with brand new HVAC systems they know they can trust.
Wrapping Up: How to Increase Your Home Sale Price Using Your HVAC System
When you’re selling your home in South Carolina, it’s essential to consider which repairs will have the most significant impact on buyers and their perception of your home. In some cases, repairing a component of your HVAC system isn’t as cost-effective as replacing it in its entirety.
Hopefully, this guide has provided valuable information about the most common HVAC issues in South Carolina and the cost to provide them. You should now be better equipped to decide if repair or replacement will boost your home value more as you prepare to sell.