Friday, August 29, 2008

Cooling down the Inspection

As a home inspector there are procedures you follow for every system you inspect. Below are the procedures for inspecting air-handlers, and heat-pumps;
1. Inspect the electrical conductors. They should be entering
the unit with the proper romex connector.
2. Inspect all wires attached to the unit for a secure
connection.
3. Inspect for dirt, rust and corrosion.
4. Inspect the fan system. If belt driven, inspect the
condition of the belt.
5. Remove and inspect the air filter.
6. Set the thermostat up about 2 degrees.

NOTE: Heat pump thermostats have an emergency
light that comes on to indicate the supplemental heat
is on. If you are demanding 3, 4 or 5 degrees
increase in temperature, it could cause the
supplemental or emergency heat to come on. If it is
a heat strip air handler, it could cause the heat strips
to come on.
7. Turn the furnace on and let it run for about 4 minutes,
then turn thermostat up more than 4 degrees to see that
the emergency heat comes on.
8. Inspect the exterior heat pump checking to see that is
level.
NOTE: The heat pump does the same job as the air
conditioning. What makes it different is the
reversing valve.
9. Inspect that the heat pump is not be covered by a deck
and has clearance from bushes, shrubs and retaining
walls. The unit needs to breath.
10. Inspect refrigerant lines from the house to the unit. The
large line should be insulated.
NOTE: The larger copper tubing line is the suction
line.
11. Inspect the disconnect for secure mounting to the wall.
12. Inspect the disconnect for open knockouts.
13. Inspect that all wiring has proper wire or conduit
connectors going from the junction box and connectors
going into the unit itself.
14. Inspect that the unit is setting on a secure flat surface and
not directly on the ground.
15. Retrieve model numbers, serial number and
manufacture’s name from the serial plates.
16. Inspect all supply registers for adequate airflow.
17. When inspection is complete, set thermostat to its
original position and let the unit turn off on its own.

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