The furnace inspected is an electric upflow system. It is has a 100% efficiency rating. The cold air return ducts (not in picture) are not connected to the air handler. There is just an open hole there for the handler to intake air. This is a need to repair deficiency that should be included in the report. A qualified HVAC contractor would be recommended for further evaluation.
My article of research is on Heat Pumps. There are three types of heat pumps; air-source, ground-source, and water-source heat pumps. Air-source uses the outside air as the heat source. If the temperatures are exceptionally cold the air-source heat pump is not efficient. Ground source is geothermal. It takes the heat from the ground as the heat source. Water-source uses water as the heat source.
This picture is of a new gas furnace, Flame was a good blue color and no sign of co2, or corrosion. Further evaluation should one pvc pipe leaking moisture back into cabinet, reccommend repair by lic hvac.
Many Realtors and some homeowners have asked me about inspecting the heat exchangers. I tell them they are not accessable, watching Bens video on showing a exchanger and why they are not accessible, was very infromative.
This is a picture of my furnace that was installed in 2011. I just noticed that the shut off for the furnace is after the drip leg which is a defect. That is what I learned from becoming an inspector.
I read about Backdrafting for this course. It can be a dangerous condition but can be fixed relatively easy with combustion air being brought into the room where the fuel fired appliances are located. This is especially important in older homes that are being made weather tight with new windows or other upgrades that are closing up air leaks.
Upon inspection of the furnace the unit seems to be functioning correctly, but the inducer motor seems to be whining. Would recommend having a professional look at the unit closer and verify if this is of concern or not. Filters also appeared clean and free debris, service records on the furnace show it was last serviced September 2016. Recommend checking the air filter once a month to prevent over working the furnace and to promote good air quality.
For my research I read a article about central vac systems. The article was very informative about where central vac systems came from and how they considered obsolete for many years. Then in the 90’s there was a rise in interest again with homes becoming larger and the drop in cost of materials to install the system. They article had many great reasons why having a central vac system could be a benefit. I would say that if you get a chance check out this article if you think you might want to install one in your home, but I would also say be aware they are very expensive.
Bryant Unit ( 561CJ036 ) 3 ton Condenser Unit. Unit is level and appears to be operational. Electrical disconnect in place with proper 30amp max fuse. Disconnect box noted with surface rust at panel. Appears cosmetic only. Satisfactory insulation at low pressure line ( vapor line ). Cooling fin area appears clean with what seems to be quality air flow out the top. 
This is a picture of a Rheem air conditiong unit built in 2011. You can see many of the componets of an air conditiong unit in this photo such as the liquid and suction lines, the condensate drain, the air filter area with the size of the air filter written on the outside, and the type of refrigerant (R-410A) that shoud be used. This unit is functioning properly but there is a small dent in the condensate line near the floor.
Summary of Home Heating Oil Tanks
Heating oil, which is also known as Fuel Oil No. 2, is used to heat millions of homes across the U.S. The oil is usually stored in tanks underground, in the basement, or outside of the home. Leaks in the tank and spills while filling the tank can happen and these are very harmful to the enviroment and possibly your personal health. An inspector should look for possible damages to the tank, drips or leaks, tank lines in general bad condition, weak support, and dying or dead vegation around tank. All of these conditions could mean a leaking tank and this should be reported.
For my research I selected the Air Conditioner Condensate Trap and System from the gallery. In my research and articles read, I found that approximately 2 gallons of water may be produced from a 3 ton air conditioning system within 1-2 hours on a hot and humid day.
It is very important for a condensate lines to terminate at the right area in order to prevent water damage, flooding, ect. The termination point needs to follow local and/or state guidelines as well. A trap is needed in some systems in order to prevent sewer gas backup into the air supply if the trap terminates at a waste drain or stack.
Several types of condensate systems include a condensate line terminating at its proper point. Systems with condensate pumps to actually pump the water to a termination point if gravity flow is not an option. Float switches to prevent the operation of systems in case the condensate water floods the drain pan causing flooding and spill over into areas of the home, basement, crawl space, or attic.
Condensate systems are a very important part of the Air Conditioning System and should be reviewed during the inspection process in order to ensure proper drainage. Severe water damage can occur to structures, drywall, and other areas of the home if the system does not properly terminate in an approved location.
The HVAC system in this house in a natural gas fuel forced hot air system. It’s rated as high efficiency with has a efficiency rating of over 90%. There is an electric static air filtration system that is installed in the return side just before the home air reenters the furnace.
Gravity furnaces are becoming harder to find still in use, the systems are large and very inefficient. The duct work takes up a lot of space and has to be run in generally vertical stacks taking up closet space or creating bump outs in the middle of an interior wall. The fuel type is generally wood, coal or oil. Asbestos was used as an insulation on the furnaces so that should be something to lookout for if you come across one of these old systems.
While inspecting a gas forced air furnace, I noticed rust and water stains inside the furnace cabinet. This indicates that condensation is forming and leaking inside the furnace. The stains were in a congested area of the furnace with limited access to view. I recommended further evaluation and correction by a qualified HVAC contractor to determine the cause of the condensation leaking into the furnace.
Ron Zuccaro
Get It Right Home Inspection, LLC
I studied a library article on inspecting furnaces. Lots of good info. in this article. One thing is that gas furnaces can be described or classified by:.
A) The direction of air flow through the furnace. Such as up flow or horizontal flow.
B) Heating efficiency. Such as high efficiency or mid-efficiency.
C) Type of ignition system. Such as standing pilot or intermittent pilot.
This is good information that is simple and to the point while reporting to the client.
Ron Zuccaro
Get It Right Home Inspection, LLC
The HVAC unit inspected is an electric powered up flow heat pump unit. The label states is was manufactured in Oct. 2006, so it has been in use for more than 10 years. The unit turned on and the heating function appeared to operate as expected. Exterior temperatures were too cold to test the cooling function so it that aspect was not tested.
The photo is a Trane 3 ton updraft heat pump air handler with auxiliary heat strips. It was manufactured in 2009 and the heat and emergency heat functions operated normally from the thermostat. The temperature is above 65 so I also tested the cooling and the differential is 15 so it appears to operate as normal. The filters are clean on the unit and it appears to have been serviced recently.
I read the article on central air conditioning system inspections. The article has many good tips that a home inspector can give to their client such as having an annual inspection completed by a certified professional, replacing or cleaning the air filter, keeping vegetation away from the external unit and keeping the drain line free of alga and other debris. While I wouldn’t recommend a novice take a condensing unit apart to clean it and straighten fins this is a great reference to make a checklist for your clients.
This is my essay for the HVAC course. I came across this return air vent in an older home. I could see cob webs below the floor register so I lifted the register and found it to be full of webs, dirt, pet hair and other debris. While the furnace appeared to work normally, I suspect the return ducts are not functional by the accumulation of obstructions.
