Research & Writing Assignment:
I inspected the cooling and heating systems of my house. Today the weather is 63 F, not appropriated to run the cooling system. I turned the heating on, the system runs smoothly once the themosat calls for heat. I checked the filters, it’s dirty and clogged, should be replaced soon!
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
THis is a downward view of a overflow pan, primary drain for the A/C system. The home owner just had the air handler & Condenser replaced due to moisture at this area. (about 3 days prior to inspection) During inspection i found active water at same site. The insulation on the primary drain line was damaged and leaking excess condensation on to the deck. may not have been a condenser problem, maybe just $6 of insulation.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Most of the furnaces i inspect are forced air furnaces, late 90’s and newer. consequently, the issues are few. However, occasional we have cast iron heat exchangers with an abundance of rust under neath the furnace. this is the tell-tell sign that an exchange may have cracked.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Condenser
The outdoor condensing unit is a part of the air conditioning system of the house.
After the compressor inside the house compressed the gas vapor into a liquid and pushed it to the condenser, the hot vapor gets cooled. This happens when the cold outdoor air is being blown through the coils of the condenser.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This photo shows the importance of properly spacing electrical cables from heating ducts as overheating of the external jacket is clearly visible and evident on the ductwork. This has the potential for failure which could result in an electrical fire.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Central air condition inspections and maintenance is a must for home owners to keep the unit running in good working condition. Maintenance such as : replacing the air filter monthly, inspect the evaporators and clean if necessary with evaporators cleaner every 3 to 6 month , check condensation pvc pipe and add an ounce of bleach to get rid of mold inside the pipe for clear drainage , clean outside unit by vacuuming leaf and debris, wash coil by using garden hose . And finally have an ac professional check and do maintenance yearly .
Research & Writing Assignment:
After reviewing the graphic for Fireplace Hearth Extension Requirements, fireplaces with an opening of or greater than 6 sqft must have a hearth that extends 12" on either side of the opening and extending 20" in front. A fireplace with less than 6 sqft. must extend 16" from the front of the hearth and 8" on either side of the opening.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The image above is for air condition unit , manufacturing by Matag 2006 and it 5 ton unit or 60000 BTU , using 410 A Freon. Compressor seems to be in good working condition at the time of inspection also . Some debris and leaf , need cleaning. Air condition was cooling the house at the time of inspection
Research & Writing Assignment:
For my research assignment I read an interesting article by Nick Gromicko called Attic Pull-Down Ladders. In this article the author gave a detailed description of this type of ladder, the common defects associate with it, safety tips and relevant codes pertaining to attic pull-down ladders. I never thought about locking the access to my attic until I read this article. I will certainly use the safety tips Ive learned from this article as an attempt to keep my family safe.
Thanks,
Smith Joseph
Research & Writing Assignment:
Central Humidifiers
Forced air heating systems also include central air humidifiers. During the heating season, the central air humidifier makes sure that the in the house has the exact relative humidity. This avoids people from getting irritated and inflamed airways, and helps prevent damage like cracks in the walls, furniture, and paint, for example.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Ive inspected a forced warm-air furnace for my inspection assignment. Natural gas is the fuel type used by this heating system. In my opinion, upflow highboy is the heating method for this furnace. This unit is equipped with a shut-off valve for the gas line. The furnace was readily accessible for inspection, maintenance or repair and appeared to be in good working condition at time of the inspection.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The attached photo shows clearly identifiable features of a buried oil tank of some kind. The fill pipe is marked, as well as the vent pipe.
An excerpt from the oil furnace tab in the lesson plan: " There are one-pipe systems and two-pipe systems that connect the tank to the heating system. When you see a one-pipe system where only one fuel line pipe is connected to the burner assembly, the tank is usually installed in the same location as the heating system, such as both being located in the basement. When you see a two-pipe system where there are two fuel line pipes, then the tank is usually located outside. The distance between the tank and the heating system is likely long, with the tank located vertically above the heating system; otherwise, the tank cannot use gravity to move oil to the burner."
Research & Writing Assignment:
Article Chosen: Inspecting Gas-Fired Boilers by Nick Gromicko and Katie McBride
The article begins by describing the basic means by which hot water or steam are produced from a boiler to provide heat to a home. There are various means of sending this from the boiler, such as radiant floor heating, radiators, or baseboard radiators.
The article also describes boilers based upon vent type, direct, mechanical or atmospheric. A properly sized boiler needs to be selected to match the heating design load of the home.
“There are also four categories for furnaces based on flue vent pressures, flue gas temperatures and vent pipe materials.”
Research & Writing Assignment:
Inspecting Conventional Oil-fired Hot-Water Boilers
Conventional oil-fired hot-water boilers may represent a small portion of heating systems being used today, but certain essential elements must be inspected when inspecting and describing such systems.
An inspector is obligated to inspect readily accessible, visually observable, installed systems and components. The observations made should be communicated to the client within a written report and they must cover those systems and components that in the professional judgement of the inspector are either not functioning properly, are significantly deficient, or are near the end of the service life. In this case an inspector must access readily openable access panels to inspect installed heating equipment, venting systems, distribution systems, and describe the energy source, and type of heating system.
That being said, the objective here is not to go through the scope of a heating system inspection as defined by the different standards, but to go through, the items to inspect and why.
During an inspection, from observations made from the outside, one could start to observe elements of the heating and cooling system, such as chimneys, vents, gas lines, or oil-fill installations. As you enter, you may ear the noise of a boiler or furnace; you can locate the thermostats to determine whether they are mechanical or digital, and then you can try to locate and count the number of different heating systems that may be contained within a home.
So, assuming we are dealing with a conventional, oil-fired, hot water boiler, we then proceed to the boiler room, which may be in the basement in a central location or not. Are there any reasons not to turn on the system or call for heat? Nobody wants the heating system to be turned on in the heat of the summer or if the system is temporarily shut down and awaiting a technical inspection, repair or replacement. If the system is shut down, note it in the report and explain why you could not test the heating system. Ask the seller or sellers representative for permission to test the system, even if only for a short period to validate that the system is functional.
Locate the data plate. Identify the equipment (furnace or boiler). Note the make, serial number, capacity and other pertinent information from it. What kind of fuel is being used? What is the distribution method: ducts and registers; radiant piping or panels; electric heating; and are they using pipes, radiators or convectors/baseboards.
Seeing as we are inspecting a conventional oil-fired hot water boiler, how is the combustion air supplied, and the products of combustion expelled? Note all of that and observe the condition of these systems and components.
Before operating the system, or if it is already in operation, validate that the system is correctly installed to the venting system and chimney, and that you have a full unencumbered and safe access to the boiler. Verify that the temperature and pressure gauges are indicating normal operating values, and verify that all visible and accessible operating and safety controls are present. By now you should be able to determine the efficiency of the system (conventional, mid- or high-efficiency).
Assuming it is working, listen for unusual noises, look for gas leaks in the venting system, water leaks around the controls, the valves or fittings and around the boiler itself, if you can, and walk about the house to see that the heat is getting into every room.
Before opening any panels, turn the power to the heating unit off. Then, open any panels that are there for homeowner inspection and maintenance only. If tools are required, then do not open these and state why you did not open the panel(s) in the report.
Look for issues or conditions with each component. Be systematic. The major components that you have to look at are: the cabinet; fuel storage and delivery; combustion air; burners; heat exchanger(s); venting; controls; and distribution system.
Use your flashlight and mirror to look at the heat exchanger and other components to look for cracks, signs of overheating and other deficiencies. An inspector is not a heating specialist, consultant, technician or engineer. He does not have to determine the adequacy of the: heating supply; distribution balance; combustion air components. Nor is he a technician that is fully familiar with any type of heating system. Limit your observations to the obvious, and defer to a professional for further evaluation, if in doubt.
At this point, turn the power back on, and turn the thermostat up. Observe the startup sequence, the ignition of burners, and look for delayed ignition, flashback and other issues. Check the venting and input air. Where does it come from, and where does it go? Close the boiler room door to see if the boiler becomes starved for combustion and dilution air (conventional boiler). Follow the sequence of events and observe if everything is falling into place.
Once you have followed the sequence of steps that a conventional oil-fired hot-water boiler go through, then do not forget to turn the system back off, power it off, re-install the cover panel, re-power the unit, if required, and make sure the thermostat is back to its original setting.
At the end of the inspection, make sure that everything is put back as it was originally. Clean up whatever mess you may have made, and double check with the homeowner if everything is okay.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The image I have selected for this essay is that of soot accumulation at the natural gas fueled burner. In this image there is a large amount of soot build up under the burners of this furnace. This soot build up is usually indicative of lack of primary combustion air. Too much fuel is being burned with not enough primary air being supplied to the combustion chamber. The flames coming off this burner are most likely yellow to orange in color with probable flame lift off. As the inspector I would advise my client that the soot build up is indicative of lacking primary air supply and will need to be addressed by a licensed HVAC technician.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article that I have selected for this essay is from the internachi.org/articles section and is titled “check on your HVAC systems before they check out on you”. What I learned from this article were some general guidelines for instructing clients about potentially needing to repair or replace the HVAC equipment. According to the article HVAC systems in the age of around 8 to 15 years old though while still repairable may benefit from replacement of the older equipment with newer high efficient appliances. Older furnaces can have efficiency ratings as low as 60-70% efficiency where as new furnaces can be up to 98% efficient according to the AFUE. In relation to the article I would still advise that a client contact a qualified HVAC technician for repair and replacement options but the article itself is still good food for thought.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Condenser units for air conditioning systems are located outside. They compress the refrigerant to a liquid. It is important that these units are kept clean so they can dissipate heat generated by the compressor efficiently. Clogged and dirty units can cause malfunction and failure.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Air distribution systems distribute the warm or cool air from the air handler to various areas of the house. Supply air enters the rooms via registers, which are usually covered with grills. Air is pulled back to the air handler via the return duct system.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a photograph of the manufacturer label on the inside of the furnace. This sticker contains information about the furnace and its capabilities. This is also useful in telling the age of the furnace. As shown in the previous video, you can go to www.buildingcenter.org and enter the serial number to determine the age.
Research & Writing Assignment:
This is essay is about determining the type of heating system a residential house could have. As an inspector, one of our duties is to report on the type of heating and cooling systems. There are many types of systems. By observation, you should be able to tell one from another. Different systems have different components. For example, if you see an oil tank outside of the house, it may mean there is an oil furnace inside. There are many different indicators so it is important to study all types of systems.
