I am doing my essay on the gallery image of the refrigeration cycle. This image helps me understand how the refrigerant is compressed to high pressure and cooling through the condenser coil then choked down in pressure to make the refrigerant cool quickly as a repeating cycle.
Photo from mock inspection. Observed in the attic was the duct work system for the HVAC unit. Noted is the starting collar located directly above the unit below. This system employed fiberglass wrapped flexible supply ducts to all registers thru out the home. All presented good connections with no signs of crushing or damage.
HVAC systems should be designed with adequate supply and return registers. This allows the system to effectively provide conditioned air to all registers and the return of stale air to be reconditioned. To avoid pressure imbalances, drafts and temperature differences this can be achieved through a central return register. These are typically located in a central hallway or stairwell adjacent to the main living area. Locations are determined on the HVAC design plans used by builder / contractor.
The image I chose to use is of a standard residence gas meter. These meters measures the volume of gas entering a building and are required by code to be outside the buildings to make it easier to access for the gas company of which the meter belongs to.
For this assignment I read the article “Pilot Lights” which talks about the safety involved in inspecting systems with pilot lights. If a pilot light is discovered to be out during the inspection the unit it is attached to does not have to be turned on or off in order to protect the inspector. Gas could be leaking for an unknown amount of time from the pilot light and could be hazardous if ignited.
After studying the “equipment placement diagram” it is evident how important the placement of a unit is. There are several different locations a unit can be. In Florida the two most common places are on the exterior and in the attic. When inspecting the units it is crucial that the inspector ensures the proper placement so that it can be maintained and serviced properly and that it has the ability to function properly with adequate spacing and protection from their surroundings.
The central hvac system installed in this home home has many problems.
It has the main delivery duct from the unit to the registers entering the attic space with no separation from the closet area where it located and the attic. the duct work has several joints that are not sealed and are compressed causing restrictive air flow. Recommendation is to have a certified technician inspect and repair defects in the installation of this unit.
As a home inspector, my primary interest is to assure my client that he/she is receiving a comprehensive inspection and that their investment is safe and that any defects are located so they can be addressed and brought to their attention in a way that is clear and they can understand.
this is a faceplate off a air supply unit, based on the serial number information, if your go to building.org you can determine that the unit is a 2017 model and with the model number is a 3.5 ton unit
I chose the image of the split system air conditioning. It outlines the flow of air through the return ducts that runs over the evaporator coil that cools the air and extracts water that is expelled through the condensate line then sends the cool air through the plenum through the vents system back to the house
The air filter shown in this filter is of a kind advertised as being high efficiency. It appears to be dirty and needs to be changed. The coil behind the filter was clean upon inspection with a flashlight. The air conditioner is a heat pump system and appears to be functioning normally with the thermostat controls. The inspector found paperwork in an access door showing that the exterior heat pump had been replaced with a new unit approximately one year ago.
This essay is regarding bathroom ventilation fans. Bathroom fans are for the purpose of exhausting odors and humidity. The fan may be operated by a switch or less commonly by a moisture sensing switch. The fan should be ducted to exhaust outside of the house. Some fans may only have an activated charcoal filter and this should be noted in the inspection. Signs that the fan may not be functioning properly is a buildup of lint/dust on the grill, moisture stains on the drywall or corrosion on metal surfaces in the bathroom.
This is the reversing valve for a heat pump. It is located outside in the condenser and is the most common practice in modern heating and air supply. The reversing valve can run the refrigerant either way to accommodate for heating or cooling your home.
The reversing valve for a heat pump is located outside in the condenser and is the most common practice in modern heating and air supply. The reversing valve can run the refrigerant either way to accommodate for heating or cooling your home.
**How to Inspect HVAC Systems Course
Inspection & Writing Assignment
Filters**
Filters are a very sensitive component in any HVAC system, for that reason should be part of the routine of the home inspector. In the picture attached can be seen the difference between a used filter (6 months approx.) and a new one. A used filter that is not changed on time can induce several mechanical problems in the HVAC performance and increase the fuel consumption. Is also important to check whether the filter is correctly collocated. In the picture can be detailed the arrow that indicates the right direction as should be installed.
**How to Inspect HVAC Systems Course
Research & Writing Assignment**
After having covered all the course I have many doubts about how to perform a correct and complete HVAC inspection. If you follow strictly the “Standard of Operation,” the inspection could be very superficial, leaving at the side real operative and mechanical problems that couldn’t be seen, detected or properly evaluated. To check the real functionality of the HVAC equipment present at the dwelling you are visiting, you should spend a certain amount of time to prove the equipment rightly and detect any probable problem. Even so, the level of knowledge of the Home Inspector in this subject is limited.
On the other hand, the Home Inspector can’t refer the HVAC inspection to a professional all the time just to cover its back. As you see, this subject is delicate, because the client deserves, and expects, the best investigation by the Home Inspector, mainly because any detail about the operation or malfunction of the HVAC equipment not stated in the final report, can represent into the future a big amount of money for the client if buy the unit following our report. A continues education and asking for help or advice on time would be something to consider, or count with a strong contract and an efficient insurance. Just in case…
This is a picture of a heat pump unit. You can see the breaker box to disconnect the power from the unit. You can also see the refrigerant lines going into the house, and you can also see the drip tube in front of the unit.
The diagram I studied was of an air conditioning system. The diagram shows the outdoor condensing unit which includes the fan, condensing coil and the compressor. The diagram shows the freon lines going to and from the evaporator. You can also see the expansion device as well as the blower motor to move cool air into the dwelling.
As the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is forced through the expansion device, it expands into a larger volume in the evaporator coil. When it expands, its pressure is reduced and its boiling temperature is lowered. Under this low pressure, the liquid refrigerant boils until it becomes a vapor. During this change of state, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the warm indoor air flowing across the evaporator coil. as the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is forced through the expansion device, it expands into a larger volume in the evaporator coil. when it expands, its pressure is reduced and its boiling temperature is lowered. under this low pressure, the liquid refrigerant boils until it becomes a vapor. during this change of state, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the warm indoor air flowing across the evaporator coil.
giving the knowledge i gained from this section i have learned how the atomized oil burner functions, given in the near future i will know and understand how this works when doing an inspection. tho its not common these days for homes to have this type of heating method, i will diffidently be able to identify this type of heating method.