HVAC Inspection by a Home Inspector

HVAC, or Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning, plays an important role in any home, office, vehicle, or building. A home inspector knows that the HVAC system is the engine that drives your home, and just like the engine in your car, it needs regular maintenance to keep it in top working order. Since the industrial revolution, home inspectors have been highly trained in understanding the importance of this design in any place where safe, healthy building regulations are controlled by temperature, fresh air from outside, and of course, humidity. A home inspector uses this science of indoor comfort to also regulate environmental cleanliness. All of the components of HVAC, the reduction of air pollution, ventilation, and maintaining balanced air pressures, and air temperature control provide comfort and safety to all people. An HVAC home inspector in the US can be a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or ASHARE. This society is made up of technicians, individuals and organizations interested in HVAC. Design standards in the US state that in some states, counties, or cities, these codes enforced by a HVAC home inspector are updated on a 3-year development cycle. This means that local Building Permit Departments are charged with upholding these standards on private and certain public properties, so you should look into having your home checked out by a home inspector if you have not already.

You may be wondering why you need a home inspector to check the HVAC system standards in your home. If you think leaving the system unchecked is fine, just remember that there are dangers in not allowing a home inspector to check and fix problems. A home inspector can tell you that Legionnaire's Disease, which is usually spawned in air conditioning ducts, can kill you. A statistic found in Total Health & Better Health Magazine states that 1 in 6 people who suffer from allergies do so because of the fungi and bacteria found in the air duct systems in their homes. Also, indoor air is found to be 70% more polluted than outside air in many studies determined by EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency. Fiberglass filters are less than 8% effective in stopping air born dirt, dust, and pollen particles that pass through. Unclean and dirty air duct systems are 50% responsible for contributing to sick building syndrome as stated by Healthy Buildings International. It can be said that on an annual basis, poor air quality leads to over one billion dollars in medical costs and sixty billion in sick leave and production loss. A home inspector can save you from becoming a part of that statistic.

HVAC System Problems

You may not notice your HVAC system much when it's working, but when the system breaks down or is operating poorly and inefficiently, you will notice that your ability to heat or cool your home becomes a troublesome action. A home inspector uses a visual inspection of your HVAC systems components to determine if there is a need for cleaning or maintenance. A home inspector has the capability, as well as the proper equipment to perform and document these comprehensive inspections and will enhance the preventative maintenance of your home. Not only is a home inspector out to check your system is cost effective, but they are able to identify the wear and tear on your system's components. A home inspector even has the means of sometimes using digital and robotic video recording equipment to get to the most hard-to-reach places.

Home inspectors are responsible for checking your HVAC system based on many factors. A typical inspection conducted by a home inspector would be a thorough check on all of the elements that make up your system. The home inspector would make sure that the return air element, also called the plenum, is clean and that filters are up to the HVAC standards and that the supply air plenum is free of moisture damage and debris. A home inspector would make sure that the heating and cooling elements, as well as the blower blades were working and free of dirt and debris build up. The home inspector will also check to make sure that all fiberglass components of your system are up to standards and free of abrasions or damage. A home inspector would also check to make sure that the coil drain pans are working properly and are not backed up.

A home inspector also knows the importance of the metal ducts in your system. The home inspector can check your ducts to make sure they are working properly and free of dust, mite and fungal particles that can be making you sick. The home inspector will also check that air vents are also tested and inspected. The home inspector will ensure that all grilles, registers, and diffusers are attached securely to the walls, ceiling and floors and that they are clean and working. Other visual checks provided by the home inspector are thermostat calibration conducted on all units located in the home, electrical connections and wiring, evaporator coils working properly and not damaged, the condenser's quality and working status, safety controls all functioning properly, refrigerant pressure is accurate and controlled, heat mode and defrost cycles are working, vent clearances are unblocked, and gas pressure and piping. After the home inspector has completed an inspection, a detailed diagnosis report is issued to the homeowner, which describes the functionality and cleanliness of the system.

A home inspector doesn’t just give you a fact sheet about your system. A home inspector will always provide solutions for problems, as well as care tips for your unique home comfort needs, including water filtration and air quality solutions that could save your household money. A home inspector is a very affordable service and the home inspector will assess the current state of your home's indoor quality, safety, and comfort, as well as give you expert advice for every problem or need that can be addressed after an inspection.