Inspected this electric furnace. No problems found at time of inspection.
Adequate supply to all rooms.
Chromalox Electric Warm Air Furnace.
Date of manufacture 1985
0" clearance from combustibles, plenum and ducts.
I would note that it is nearing end of life since life expectancy of furnaces range from 15-25 years on average and this furnace is now 32 years old.
Evaporator coil
Warm house air passes over the coil which contains the refrigerant that turns from liquid to gas absorbing heat from the air cooling it before going into home. The refrigerant then goes out to the condensing unit which contains the compressor (heart of the system) where it gets compressed so more even more heat can be released to the outside and then cools back to a liquid and repeats the cycle.
Here we see a furnace heat exchanger. This heat exchanger has a crack in it and was replaced. During our inspection we are not able to visually see a crack. this would be a time when we would see signs that would indicate that we need to suggest that a licensed service provider have a more in depth loo at this system.
Inspecting the HVAC System for Duct Leaks and Energy Loss. It is very important to make sure that these components are now leaking air even if they are located in conditioned space. the design pressures need to be maintained in order to achieve rated efficiency.
To describe fuel type gas or oil fired, distribution gravity or forced air, type of air flow as up flow, down flow or horizontal ,BTU output, AFUE rating (78% beginning January 1, 1992 and 75% for mobile homes), efficiency and ignition type in report.
Humidifier filters should be changed often. Usually after every heating season. Water scale and buildup can adversely affect the function of these whole house humidifiers. These units should be turned off during the summer months, when heating is not necessary and used during the heating season to add moisture to the condition air.
This photo is of a central heat pump/air conditioner system; an Amana 16 SEER, 2-stage, 4-ton unit, model number ASPT59C14AA in good working condition. The inside air handler was manufactured in July 2015, and the outside condenser was manufactured in March 2016; both installed in July 2016. It operates at 208 volts, and has a 50-Amp power disconnect on the wall adjacent to the inside air handler. There is another 50-Amp disconnect on the exterior wall next to the outside heat exchanger. The outside unit is mounted on an approved hurricane pad with tie downs. Both units are very clean, and shop not signs of rust, dirt, or debris. I found no unsafe operational conditions under normal use.
Grinder pumps are installed when a sewer waste line is installed below the sewer line or septic tank. It is similar to a sump pump. Water and solid waste are directed to a sealed waste pit. When the pump is activated it grinds up the solid waste and directs it to the sewer or septic line.
Thermostats by Nick Gromicko
In this article I learned:
Thermostats can give false or ghost readings that are often caused by incorrect readings of the room temperature. Often this is caused by its location near a heat source such as a fireplace, direct sunlight, etc., or in a breezeway like a drafty hall, or too close to an open door or window.
The importance of a flush mounted back plate, and how it can cause erratic and fluctuating temperatures.
Even the importance of insulating the opening in the wall behind the back plate to stop air flow into the unit.
Knowing how a thermostat receives power, and if there is a battery backup.
How to do light cleaning of the unit to assure proper functioning.
How one can save 10% on their utility bill by setting the thermostat back 100 to 150 for an eight hour period.
Picture: Electric Water Heater
Brand: Premier Plus (Energy Efficient)
Year installed: 2006 (and 6 weeks)
Capacity: 38-Gallons
When triggered by the thermostat or open hot water tap, the water in the water heater is heated by electrical-resistance heating elements through the supply line. The waters temperature in the water heater increases and is circulated to the furnace, which is located directly above, or the domestic hot-water supply.
Article: Water Heater Expansion Tanks
As inspectors, it is important to check that expansion tanks are positioned high enough above the water heater so that water can drain back down to the water heater tank. Additionally, the expansion tank should be checked for adequate support, corrosion, and leakage.
Common residential tanks are 150 PSI. If the water heater exceeds 150 PSI or the temperature exceeds 210 degrees Fahrenheit then the temperature pressure relief (TPR) valve will open to let water release from the water heater. This is important because TPR valves are capable of reducing water pressure at a greater rate than the capacity of the water to raise the pressure. As a result, it will prevent catastrophic pressure build up in the water heater, which could cause an explosive damage.
This is one of nine base bord radiant hot water heating units in the home face cover hase been removed for inspection it is clean and free of damage. This heating unit is on one of two zones in the system, it heats by cerculating hot water thew the pipe the fines radeate heat, it rises and cold air is drawn in from the bottom to be heated. it is a gravity cycle.
I chose Carbon Monoxide Poisoning for this essay because the course was HVAC. I find the statistics on death, injury and the ppm tables eye opening because I actually had co poisening when i was a young man and did’nt even know it. I was trying to get a good finnish on the basment floor and could not figure out why the concrette would not dry the basment was closed off and the oil blast heater was going strong. I had to give it up because my head hurt so bad and my balance was fading. I needed my wife to help me out of the basement. We just sat there on the frount porch me holding my head her saying you should go to the emergence room. Knowing the facts can save your life. good artical every one should read it.
Daylight Savings was created in a time where there was not an abundance of artificial light in the world. So to make the evening hours to have more daylight than the morning hours for shops and businesses to stay open throughout the day.
different types of boilers are still mass produced and in many homes, depending on your area. its good to note and know these types and how they function. we as inspectors dont have to tell people how to maintain them or operate them if the unit has been turned off or water shut off to the unit. note and report, but explain the process and the type of unit will help to owner understand a bit more during our inspection as to what is going on.
talking to a potential buyer or owner about there sources of heat and cooling could be tricky at times. knowing how a appliance works is great and explaining to them is better. Keep in mind though they will have questions as to how long it will last and how much it would cost to replace or fix. we are not required to talk about these instances but talk to the owner that we are here to inspect and give you feed back on working units or defect, not prices or magically knowing that the unit will last for 5 more years. use your words and be polite
This is a mid- efficiency Coleman, gas fired, hot-surface ignition, counterflow furnace in the attic. Based on the serial number the manufacture date is January 2003. It has an 80.0 AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency), and has not been tested due to ambient temperatures. The glow plug is in good condition, with no physical damage other than some dust on the bottom area. There is no service tag visible on or around near the unit with a date on it or information about when it was last serviced. I would recommend further evaluation and servicing before its use by a professional contractor.
The attached photo shows a fuel fired high efficiency furnace. The yellow gas supply line vertically on the left side with the properly located shut off valve, drip leg and union supplying gas to the unit, PVC exhaust pipes and appropriate labels indicating a 78% AFUE.
“Farther” vs. “Further” in Inspection Reports. Although the Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that farther and further are interchangeable, recently a distinction has been made where “farther” is used in distance and “further” is used with regards to degree, time or space.
I performed my research assignment on the article, Thermostats, by Nick Gromicko. I chose this article because of its relevance to the course subject matter. I learned a couple of things from this article that I have not yet heard of or dealt with. Under common problems and solutions, I found the erratic operation or fluctuating temperature section interesting. I did not know that something as simple as a slightly flexed backplate could cause a poor connection for the thermostat, but it makes perfect sense after reading and thinking about it. Additionally, I learned that, in some cases, the hole in the wall behind the thermostat may have to be insulated with something to help the thermostat respond to changes in room temperature. When troubleshooting HVAC systems, its probably easiest and cheapest to start with the thermostat.