Moving into a new home is an exciting time in your life, but it can also be very stressful and expensive. Often, homeowners find themselves buried under unexpected expenses after purchasing a new home. How does this end up happening? Well, during their standard preliminary home inspection, home inspectors frequently fail to notice that important systems in the houses they are looking at need maintenance, repairs, or to be replacement. That's why you need an HVAC inspection before you move into your dream home.
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What is HVAC Inspection?
A home HVAC inspection is an in-depth evaluation of all the working parts of your home's heating and cooling systems. A certified HVAC technician inspects the HVAC system to determine its age, evaluates the cleanliness of each component, checks the function and condition of each system component, and inspects the safety mechanisms.
Why Does A Home Buyer Need An HVAC Inspection?
An HVAC inspection is a great way to avoid the surprise expenses and stress from dealing with an old, malfunctioning, or broken HVAC system. This evaluation will help determine the efficiency and condition of each part, whether or not it is wise to replace any of them, costly repairs, or high utility bills when you settle in.
A standard home inspection is necessary for discovering any glaring problems before moving in. The inspector will assess the roof, structure and foundation of the home, as well as test to make sure all plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC equipment is functioning. This is a general evaluation that simply tests if the HVAC equipment turns on and off. Although a home inspection is important, the inspector is not an HVAC technician, nor do they possess the HVAC tools to thoroughly evaluate and understand your Heating and Cooling system.
Your HVAC system is central to your comfort; give it the attention it deserves. Depending on the status of the HVAC unit, you may also be able to negotiate on better terms and potentially save money on the house purchase. So let's learn what a HVAC specialist evaluates during an HVAC inspection!
Furnace Inspection
Thermostat
To start off, it is important to make sure that your thermostat works properly. The contractor will test the device and inspect any internal wiring in order to assess if everything is functioning as it should. During a standard home inspection, the heat or AC may come on, but you will not be able to determine whether the thermostat is reaching it set temperature.
Furnace Cabinet
Next, the HVAC technician examines the structure and connections of the cabinet. This is important to inspect because it is where the internal furnace components are located.
Furnace Electrical Components
While inside the furnace cabinet, the HVAC professional evaluates all electrical connections and tests all safety features, such as the high limit switch. This safety feature turns the furnace off when it is overheating.
Furnace Blower Wheel
Next, they assess the cleanliness and efficiency of the furnace blower wheel. The blower wheel pushes the circulating air through your HVAC system and back into your duct work. If it is not working properly, your HVAC will struggle to keep up with the demands of your household, and your utility bills will skyrocket.
Furnace Ignition
They must inspect the cleanliness and functionality of the burners, flame sensor, and igniter. When any of these features become dirty, it can lead to your furnace blowing cold air or heating inconsistently. This is why regular maintenance is important for preventing a heating repair.
Furnace Exhaust Venting & Heat Exchanger
Next, the HVAC contractor inspects the condition of the flue pipe, and cracks or holes in heat exchangers. Carbon monoxide will leak out of any cracks or holes in the heat exchanger or flue pipe. If you want peace of mind, hire only HVAC professionals who know what they're doing so you aren't at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning or a gas leak.
Gas & CO Test
Safety checks are conducted by your HVAC contractor to determine if there is a gas leak or Carbon Monoxide leak. This is critical for your safety since gas is explosive and Carbon Monoxide poisoning is fatal. Both can have deadly consequences if not addressed. Additionally, they assess if the CO detectors in home are functional.
Air Conditioning System Inspection
For your air conditioning inspection, the HVAC specialist inspects your AC system's evaporator coil, which is located indoors above the furnace. If it's frozen, dirty, or covered in bio-growth, you're in trouble! And you'll have significant air flow problems if this goes untreated for too long.
AC Evaporator Coil
AC Drain Pan
The AC drain pan is a common source of leaks and mold. So during an HVAC inspection, the HVAC inspector assesses the condition of your AC drain pain before water can potentially leak over your new home. This is a common source of your AC dripping water.
AC Condensation Line
Examining your condensation lines is an important step to ensure you stay comfortable and don't experience any water leaks. The HVAC contractor takes a look at the line to see if it's clogged, has loose connections, is cracked, or has any holes. They will also take a deep look at the condensate trap, condensate drain, and condensate pump to assess if they are clogged.
Outdoor AC Condenser & Blower Fan
For the outside AC system, the HVAC pro inspects the condition of the AC condenser unit. They go on to evaluate the efficiency and condition of the condenser fan and fan motor.
AC Refrigerant Levels
Next, they check the unit's refrigerant level. Many times when you run into AC problems, like AC freezing up or not cooling properly, it is due to the presence of a refrigerant leak.
If you need to refill your refrigerant, it is important to know that the popular refrigerant Freon R-22 is now banned. Learn what that means for your AC in our blog about the ban on R-22 Freon!
AC Electrical Components
The HVAC specialist inspects and tests all electrical connections and wiring. They assess efficiency through measuring voltage and amp draws.
The HVAC technician examines the motor capacitor and measures amps to make sure everything's in working order. A problem with your capacitor may cause your AC to make a humming sound, randomly shut off, not blow cold air, or not turn on at all.
Air Flow Inspection
Inspecting for Duct Leaks & Testing for Proper Air Flow
During an HVAC inspection, an HVAC pro evaluates if your HVAC system has proper air flow. They do this by inspecting the external condition, testing the air temperature throughout the duct system, and checking the static pressure to ensure proper air flow.
Without proper air flow, you could be paying high energy bills while still not receiving the comfort you deserve. This could be a result of leaky air ducts, incorrectly sized air ducts or HVAC system, or an air flow restriction. Next, they will inspect your duct work for any damages.
When checking your air flow, the HVAC technician assesses the furnace filter and determines if it should be replaced. They also evaluate all grilles, registers, and vents to make sure they are open and properly working, as well as that your damper is facing the correct direction.
On a side note, be aware that the quality of air in a house can be greatly impacted by whether or not it has a whole-house dehumidifier installed.
Common Problems Found in HVAC Inspection
In the long run, these common issues can cost you a lot of money, but are often missed by standard home inspections. Find out what problems you may encounter with your new home:
Gas Line Leak
In case you are unaware, a gas leak is very dangerous and can cause your home to explode.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
A cracked heat exchanger is a safety hazard due to Carbon Monoxide seeping out of the cracks. We cannot stress enough how fatal Carbon Monoxide poisoning is. A cracked heat exchanger will need to be repaired immediately, and it is a very expensive repair.
Exhaust Venting Problems
A rusted or loose flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide to escape into your home. It may even cause your HVAC system to eventually shut off due to the safety mechanisms in place. Learn more about preventable factors that shut down your furnace in our furnace not turning on blog.
Dying Blower Motor
Dirt strains the blower motor and can ultimately lead to your HVAC system not operating at all. Additionally, the more dirt there is on your furnace blower motor, the higher your energy bills will be. As a result, the heating and cooling unit becomes inefficient. This can often lead to unusually high energy bills, strange sounds coming from your HVAC system, your thermostat not reaching its set temperature, and no heat.
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
The most common reason for a furnace leaking water is a clogged condensate line. A clogged drain can also cause your AC to leak water. A water leak may pose a risk for internal furnace damage and could lead to a cracked heat exchanger.
Faulty Wiring
Dirty wiring or poor wire connections either in your thermostat, control board, internal furnace, or air conditioning will cause miscommunications between the different parts of your HVAC system. HVAC wires and electronic components need to be cleaned, tightened, and adjusted periodically. This is why annual maintenance is essential for a properly working HVAC system.
Under or Overcharged Refrigerant
If you have improper refrigerant levels, you will have cooling problems. If your AC has overcharged refrigerant, your compressor will work harder and suffer substantial damage. This can result in your compressor not working. In this circumstance, you will need an AC replacement.
If the HVAC Pro discovers low refrigerant, you may experience your AC freezing up, insufficient cooling, or frequent AC short cycling. Improperly charged refrigerant typically leads to a costly repair or total AC system replacement.
Cracked or Leaky Duct Work
Did you know a leak in your duct system or poorly connected ducts can cause 20 - 30% of the air that moves through them to get lost? If you have a hole or loose connection in your duct work, then your money, comfort, and efficiency will be gone with the wind.
Dirty or clogged filters
Since HVAC units are used on a regular basis, it is highly likely that your system's filters are dirty or clogged. Dirty filters may seem like a small issue, but they can lead to uncomfortable temperatures, aggravated allergies, your AC freezing up, increased utility bills, and overall uncomfortable temperature indoors. As a result, air filter changeouts should happen every three months minimum.
Dirty or clogged Evaporator coil
The coil is the indoor part of your AC, typically located above your furnace. If it is dirty, clogged, or frozen, air will struggle to pass into your home. In turn, you will have inadequate heating and cooling and will need a HVAC repair to regain your comfort. This is an air restriction that will make you question if your HVAC system can keep up.
Dying HVAC System
It is very shocking how many homeowners inherit an HVAC system that is on death's door. Many homeowners are unaware of how old their HVAC system really is. During an HVAC inspection, not only is the condition of the HVAC system evaluated, but the age is determined as well. This is critical information when determining when you will need to replace the HVAC system in your new home. If it is over ten years old, it is highly recommended that you start considering replacing it. This is the age at which the costs of the problems you will experience start to no longer be worth the repairs.
A thorough HVAC inspection will uncover these problems before you move in, but you should schedule yearly furnace maintenance and air conditioner maintenance to prevent these problems from arising once you're settled in.
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How Much Does An HVAC Inspection Cost?
HVAC inspections can range between $100- $300 based on how in depth the evaluation is. Additionally, an HVAC inspection cost only covers the cost of one heating and cooling system. If a homeowner has multiple HVAC units for their new home, they will need a separate test for each system.
How Long Does An HVAC Inspection Take?
You might be wondering how long it takes to complete an HVAC inspection. Essentially, it depends on the type of heating and cooling equipment, accessibility, overall condition, and how in-depth the HVAC inspection is. Typically, most HVAC inspections take somewhere between one and three hours, though they could go longer if there are multiple systems involved!
At the end of every HVAC inspection, the HVAC contractor will provide the homeowners with a System Health Report . It contains a thorough account of everything your technician examined, as well as its current status.
The final report should have detailed information about each part's inspection status along with recommendations on how to best maintain/service these components moving forward.
What Are The Limitations Of An HVAC Inspection?
Well, there are two major ones:
1. Accessibility
During the inspection of your HVAC system, some components may not be accessible, such as parts of your duct work.
2. Seasons
The inspection of air conditioning becomes more difficult when the outdoor temperature is below 60 degrees. Similarly, heating inspections are limited if outdoor temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher. This poses a problem because we can't inspect certain parts of the HVAC systems during different seasons. It's also important to know which season will pose limitations for HVAC contractors: summer & winter (high) versus spring & fall (low).
Relax In Your New Home
Moving into a new home is an exciting time, as you’re finally getting to live in your dream house! But before you sign on the dotted line and hand over a down payment, it's important to make sure there aren't any hidden problems lurking under the surface. Your standard home inspection may not catch the any costly HVAC repairs or be able to tell that the entire HVAC unit needs to be replaced.
One thing we recommend is having an HVAC inspection done by one of our certified professionals, as we are the best HVAC company in the Baltimore Metro area. It'll let you know if anything needs immediate attention like leaky ducts, an AC repair, or a system replacement.
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