This course discussed the pollutants and the standards that apply for proper ventilation. The training stated that elimination at the source is preferable to confinement, which is different from what I originally thought. It was also stated that excess moisture is the most significant of the pollutants, I originally thought that moisture was needed only for mold.
The use of fans is a standard as a mechanical item for increased air quality. The ASHRAE regulations goes further to the point of ventilation air must come from the outside. For the users information a chart is provided for the minimum ventilation air requirement. ( ASHRAE 62.2 2007 Table)
The return pulls air from the house back to the unit to be conditioned and which run under negative pressure. Leaky ducts can pull in contaminants and distribute them throughout the home.Your duct system is more than just a bunch of tubes. It’s a critical component in your indoor air quality.
I used to think keeping lots of broad leave plants in the house would ensure good indoor air quality. Time to get the down low on whats right right now : )
Nicholson Pena LLC
Home Inspection or Roofing
Fort Lupton CO
Pictures of duct installed in house that will be helpful in ventilation system. The duct has a central run that branches off to each room. The duct is positioned in the engineered floor trusses that are open web above the drop ceiling in the finished basement.
Return air pics show one in hallway one in living room and one in bedroom, that is without cover. The air handler will move the air better when the closed doors do not
stop the return air from that space. This will allow the filtration of the air by the unit pulling air from main areas to the filter installed in the unit before returning it to the vents supplying the conditioned air.
Backdrafts are dangerous. all fuel fired appliances need an air supply and an outlet for the combustion gases. when there is an imbalance in the air pressure and the combustion gases are drawn into the living space this negatively affects the indoor air quality and can cause illness or death. Checking for proper air flow at fuel fired appliances should be a part of the routine in every home inspection.
Biological Pollutants are a result of back drafting wood burning stoves and fuel fired appliances as well as pest problems including dust mites. On your natural Gas fired appliances you should see a blue flame if it is mostly yellow this is a sign of incomplete
combustion creating a dangerous situation where the byproducts of the combustion are
built up and cause problems with gases indoors and worse. Have a qualified person check all gas fired equipment and or appliances on a yearly bases at least to be sure they are operating correctly. This is a energy efficiency measure as well as a safety measure.
The furnace from this inspection was only about 6 years old. It looked to be in great condition and that it was properly installed. The filter was found to be in good working order after removal and inspection. Making sure your furnace filter is never too dirty will insure proper movement and function. A clogged filter could lead to safety hazards such as fires. The exhaust vents for this furnace were of proper size and terminated to the outside properly. If your lucky you might be able to find previous service records and dates of services attached to the outside of the unit like we were able to find on this one
I choose to read was Dryer Vent Safety. This article outlines the importance of a clean and proper vented system. Lint and dust can accumulate inside the vent duct and create a fire hazard. Not allowing the moist air to exit could in turn ruin the clothes inside the dryer. It is important to make sure the vent has no bends or cracks that would allow it to clog up or vent moist air around the base of the dryer or around the wall. We use a fiber optic camera to scope dryer vents from the exterior to insure that they are clear of lint, dust and debris.
The second article I choose to read was Dust Mite Inspection. Dust mites are small arachnids that live in warm moist areas such as furniture and bedding. Keeping a house clean is the easiest way to avoid having dust mites that may cause allergies. Air filters don’t exactly do what they are marketed as. Wiping things down with a damp clothe to ensure dust does not spread or go airborne. Doing this before vacuuming will ensure the help get any dust that fell on the floor. A oood HEPA filter helps remove vey small particles.
This photograph is in the kitchen of an older home where there is no hood vent or ventilation. This creates a pollution point in the kitchen where pollution from cooking materials is not being exhausted from the area. In addition if the window was opened for ventilation the room the window opens into has no other ventilation system.
Article
“10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home”
It is pointed out in this article that making your home more energy efficient benefits you numerous ways. Tax credits, saving money, increased comfort, climate change, and reduced pollution are the major benefits. This can be accomplished by these 10 easy steps. These 10 simple and easy changes gives us as home inspectors information that we should pass on to our clients.
Article
“Central Humidifiers”
Controlling the humidity in the house is becoming more and more important. When educating our clients about indoor air quality is important to give them the proper information. Humidifiers need to be maintained and adjusted on a regular basis, not just set them and forget them. As exterior humidity changes during the seasons, the Humidifiers need to be adjusted to prevent over humidifying as well as not enough humidity. Adjusting this component will help with the interior air quality.
The component I chose for the purpose of the course was the HVAC system. The scope of my inspection included a visual inspection as well as operation of the system using normal controls.
The operation of the system using normal controls revealed the system is operational and no deficiencies were observed.
A visual inspection revealed that the unit is in need of annual cleaning and maintenance. Annual cleaning and maintenance will prolong the life of the installed components and increase energy efficiency.
A visual inspection of the systems filter revealed that it was in good condition. Filters should be checked periodically and be cleaned or replaced when required.
First article read was on Air Sampling for Mold Inspections.
Due to the fact that mold spores are not visible to the naked eye, sampling is conducted to gather information on its existence.
There are several different methods to gathering samples. Some of the common devices used are impact samplers, cassette samplers and airborne particle collectors. These devises collect data and are sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.
Upon positive results, the contaminated area should be remediated. Upon remediation, new samples should be taken to ensure the mold has been removed.
The second article read was on Inspecting the Bathroom Exhaust.
Bathroom exhausts are inspected during a home inspection. It is perceived that the main purpose of the bathroom exhaust fan is used to rid the area odors. When in fact, the also remove excess moisture, cleaning chemical fumes, etc.
Bathroom exhaust fans should be installed by manufacturers instructions.
They should be vented outside the home. Ducting should be as straight as possible with little to no bends as to not restrict airflow. Any openings should be sealed.
I read the “Bathroom Ventilation and Duct Fan” article. It was interesting to read about the environment that promotes mold, like temperature, oxygen, food and moisture. It is no wonder why there are so many attics have mold, when the bathroom exhaust fan duct terminates in the unconditioned space.
For this lesson, I selected the following two articles:
IR Cameras: An Overview for Inspectors and
Thermal Imaging Reports
In the first article, the authors begin with some background and history associated with the discovery of infrared radiation by William Herschel in 1800. Following this background information, the authors go into more detail on the uses of IR technology as a tool for the home inspector. The emphasis of this section is that IR technology serves as a qualitative tool for initially identifying anomalies which must then be further investigated through quantitative methods. The article wraps up by providing some tips for incorporating thermal images into the overall inspection report.
In the second article, the authors cover the does and don’ts of thermal imaging reports which mostly involve communication with your client. Such as explaining the capabilities and limitations of the technology to ensure you client has a reasonable expectation concerning the thermal imaging report. The article also provides some guidelines for helping the client to develop a prioritized action plan for resolving any issues which may have been identified in the report.
The image above shows a 12x24 return vent of which there are two in the house (one in the family room and one in the hall from which the bedrooms branch off). The family room return is approx. 10’ from the air handling unit and the other is approx. 30’ away. Return ducts are in the attic while the exhaust ducts are in the concrete foundation floor.
The home is 1996 sqft. and 3 bed/2 bath. MVA is 60.
I read the article titled “Dust Mite Inspection” by Nick Gromicko and is a good article for inspectors who are IAC2 certified. I was surprised to find how many mistaken ideas I had about this microscopic critter and how to deal with it as an allergen. Learning about their source of food, their potential concentrations in carpet, and how to eradicate them is important to discuss with clients who are concerned about indoor air quality. The importance of household cleanliness cannot be overemphasized for those who are allergic to dust mites.
Thermal imagining can be used for many things during an inspection to give additional data about the conditions of a structure. The change in temperature (or delta T) can help show possible moisture intrusion or deficiencies in the thermal barrier of the home.
Infrared technology, also known as thermal imaging, is a useful tool for a Home Inspector to have in his or her arsenal. It allows the inspector to see anomalies that wouldn’t be possible to observe with the naked eye. Moisture penetrations, electrical hot spots, pest infestations, structural defects, heating and cooling deficiencies, missing insulation, and energy audits are a few of the benefits of using a Thermal Imaging camera.
Knowing how to use the camera, and being able to communicate what it is telling you, to your client, gives you a big advantage over Home Inspectors who rely solely on what they see with their eyes.
I inspected my over the range ventilation fan in my kitchen. My home does not have a central heating/ac system and I felt it was necessary to be sure the exhaust fans were drawing air properly. As suggested in the video I placed a piece of tissue paper to the fan draw. The paper remained in place with the fan running on all speeds. When the fan was shut off the paper dropped.
Condensation forms when the temperature drops below the dew point. The droplets of water formed when the gas becomes condensed tend to form on surfaces that are colder such as metal (specifically copper) cold water pipes, backs of toilets in the summer and window panes. Older homes that do not have vapor barriers have a bigger problem with condensation. It is important to keep the condensation under control to prevent mold growth or damage to materials. In order to do this the relative humidity must be kept low by using a dehumidified, insulating cold surfaces, applying heat to colder areas, and possibly even removing house plants that contribute to higher moisture content in the air.
Air Sampling for Mold Inspection
Air sampling is a great tool for mold inspectors to implement to assess the amount of mold present in a home. It is especially helpful when the mold can’t be seen but indicating factors are present such as moisture or musty odors. Air sampling can be affected by many factors and should not be relied on as a sole means of identifying molds presence. When sampling for mold several samples should be taken. At minimum you should sample the most lived in space, near the HVAC system and an outdoor sample for comparison.
