this is my furnace, it is approx. 2yrs old has a/c new model thermostat that has blue tooth capabilities and all the programs of a newer thermostat, a/c has been serviced this season also has the furnace,newer or clean air filiter,the unit operates easily and also operates well very nice equipment, this appliance is newer. you could add a humidifier and a electronic air cleaner very easily
Here we have a high efficiency gas forced warm air heating system. Although the picture does not shot it, it is centrally located in the garage. It is controlled by an electric thermostat located in the dining room. A visual inspection has been made on it. It appears to be in solid working order, but a throughout cleaning is in order for maximum long term longevity.
This was a great course. I learned a ton of great information and will definitely use it as a tool in the future to look back on it as the need arrises.
Thank you.
Today I read two articles. Inspecting Furnaces & Radiant Heating Systems. Both were very enlightening, however the Radiant Heating System was intriguing to me. It talked about the many pros of owning a system like this for your home, but it also spoke of some of the cons as well. Such as, needing a separate system for cooling and being limited to what styles of floor coverings you can use when using them.
this my electrical sub panel, its a 70 amp sub panel with 12 breakers,with 6 arck fault protection an 6 regular breakers. It was inspected by the city inspectors 6 mos. ago an failed because he said it wasn’t properly marked for all circuits, I missed one circuit, but everthing else was in proper working order.
Our house has a typical split system usually found in our area. Although heat pumps are fairly common as well since our average winter temperatures can sometimes be mild. I also think there is an electric air filter in the plenum in the crawl space.
inspected this natural gas furnace. this is ahigh efficiency model. it is part of a split-system. this home also has central airconditioning. the heat pump unit is located on a concrete slab on the backside of the home.
i visited the online library. i chose to read the article titled “identifying and describing heat systems”. this article is very short and doesn’t cover that much info. the hvac course itself, is very detailed, however.
I tried to upload an image but I don’t see it. Just in case it is here this the evaporator coil on a 10 year old Lennox 2.5 ton air handler. It shows that the coils are dirty and has not had service and maintenance cleaning to the coils for a while. This can cause the unit to work harder and have a shorter life span and will require replacement sooner. I always recommend having the HVAC system serviced 2 times per year.
Hi, David. Please review how to upload an image with this short “how to” video: Helpful How-To Videos - InterNACHI®
Thanks.
This is a picture of some very old AC duct. Where some critters and age has worn the foil off. To try to fix the problem the owner painted the duct with some old house paint. It helped some but can still feel cold air in attic space. I think to save money that all the duct should be replaced
The information that I learned in this course has been easy to understand and informing. The many types of heating system and all there components was explained on their usage and the mechanics and also what to look for while inspecting
This is the A/C unit I inspected. This unit is relatively new and conforms to all codes. The electrical shut off is located within reasonable distance to the unit. Insulation of piping is in place. All penetrations thru the building envelope are sealed from weather.
MJ
“Plants and Indoor Air Quality”
Studies have shown that having plants in a house or business can improve air quality and even one’s health. The NASA studies show that certain plants can help remove percentages of Formaldehyde, Benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE) and Toluene. These chemicals can be found in normal everyday items around the house, paint, adhesives, paper products, cleaning supplies and many more things. The plants leaves and soil help to filter and soak up these chemicals. There are of course skeptics that say plants don’t do what researchers say and that they can in fact worsen conditions inside of a dwelling.
“Radiant Heating Systems”
These type of systems can be a great alternative to forced air systems. They can either be wet or dry, water or electric. They can be installed during new construction and even retro-fitted. The installation techniques are very different, tho retro-fitted can still be installed like new construction and vice versa. Radiant heating is a more controlled environment heating unlike forced air but radiant can only provide heating unlike forced air, which can do both. Radiant doesn’t have air blowing around, thus not moving allergens and molds around the room. The cost can be lower. They require no ducts and piping. There are some disadvantages, like less choices of flooring options, longer warm-up period and high up-front costs. In summary, radiant systems can be a great alternative to forced-air systems.
MJ
This is a brand new Goodman 2 ton condenser 13 SEER. It is connected to code, the disconnect is located right behind the condenser. The condenser is connect to a 2 ton evaporator coil inside a natural gas burning forced air heating unit in the basement. Insulation on the line is present and in good condition. No cracks or dent/crimps found on any lines.
Reading about evaporative cooling vs air conditioners. The price to purchase and operate a evaporative cooler is significantly less then AC. But reading further, there seems to be too many cons for an area with higher humidity. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and northern Texas are the best locations for this type of cooling due to their high heat and low humidity levels.
Energy-Efficient Space Heaters is the second topic I picked to read about. There are four types, coil based convection, ceramic element. oil filled and halogen lamp. Ceramic is considered safer and more efficient than coil based. Oil filled are even more efficient and don’t operate with a fan. I have seen both oil filled and ceramic in houses here in Michigan that totally replace a central heating unit all together. Most houses were built with 2x6 construction 24’’ on center and blown in insulation. A good alternative to Liquid Propane forced air furnace, if your house is constructed to benefit from using ceramic or oil filled space heaters.
Inspecting HVAC Systems
I inspected a split AC system which is a gas-compression system.
The system was turned on an appeared to be cooling efficiently.
After inspection of the technical information found on the condenser it is a 2 ton unit.
There is a breaker box for safety and service turn off located in sight of the condenser.
The unit was producing condensate water at the exterior drain.
A visual inspection was done of the interior blower/evaporator. The system was sounds smooth but there were some signs of excess condensation on the pipes and body of the unit. This needs to be checked out by a service technician.
See inspection pics attached.
Mark Fojo
Maintenance: Changing the AC filter.
I read the article on " Changing the AC filter"
All AC systems need a filtering system in order to reduce the amount of airborne microbes that can be spread throughout the duct system. Most filters are replaceable or at least washable and should be changed or cleaned on a monthly basis.
Filters can trap large particles up to 40 microns and a variety of filter types can be chosen from to provide various degrees of filtering.
If a filter is not checked on a regular basis the following side effects can be found;
1.Clogged filters will cause the unit to work under pressure which can affect the units performance and produce a reduced air flow
2. Condensate can also fall on the filter. This damp filter is a bse where mold can begin to grow. As such mold spores can be spread through the system and duct work and into the living spaces.
It is therefore important to use the right size filter and change the filter as recommended on a monthly basis .
Mark Fojo
Article 1: Identifying and Describing Heating Systems
It really good to learn about more systems other than gas forced air furnaces. In Canada majority of furnaces are gas (most likely because gas is inexpensive in Canada) but you get the odd system that is still oil, or gravity but these are dying out. We still need to understand them because we may stumble upon them once in a while.
Article 2: Hot Water Recirculation Systems
I really like the idea of this system. Although not as efficient as an instant hit water heater, it does provide instant hot water. This is great if your faucet is on the other side of the house from the water heater and you don’t have to wait the 30 or 60 seconds to get hot water, resulting in wasted water, which has become a concern as of late especially in California.
Hello students, I am posting a picture of a medium efficiency gas furnace. It is an up flow. This picture lighting is poor but you can see the burners, ventilation, and the draft inducer. This furnace is in working order and shows no obvious signs of disrepair.
