All Things HVAC

Heating and Cooling HVAC information for Everyone

Home Inspection for HVAC Systems

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Home Inspections

By Betty Stephens of Quest Media

Selling your house? When you sell your house, and conduct a real estate inspection what should inspectors check on the HVAC systems?
Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) inspection

HomeInspection
A heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) home inspection reviews the heating and cooling system of a home from a performance perspective. The inspection usually does not inspect or compare to codes or manufacturer requirements. Heating is provided typically by a forced air furnace distributed by duct work or a water/steam boiler using radiators or convectors, but space heaters, heat pumps and other methods are also in use. The energy source is usually natural gas, fuel oil, or electric, but other sources include wood and Geo-thermal. Cooling can be described as a split system, packaged unit, fan coil, heat pump, an evaporative cooler, or window/through-the-wall a/c unit.
A typical inspection will carry out a visual observation and operation of the HVAC system. The inspection will consider visible and readily accessible components, while noting recognized adverse and material defects present at the time of inspection. The inspection does not usually disassemble the equipment. The home inspection report may include a description of the system by its key components. Ideally the inspection intends to reduce risk for the buyer by reporting observed material defects. A defect may be a repair, maintenance or improvement consideration with or without a safety association. An optional statement on perceived useful remaining life may be provided.
Home Warranty Inc. states that “50% of the claims they pay are on HVAC systems yet these are two of the most under inspected items on the whole house inspection. Often the home inspector will only turn on the HVAC system that applies to current weather conditions (i.e. air conditioner in the summer, furnace in the winter) but does not evaluate the other system. In addition, several home inspectors do not have the equipment or technical knowledge to properly test HVAC systems so they tend to include several disclaimers on the home inspection about their lack of knowledge and recommend a qualified HVAC contractor evaluate further. This disclaimer is routinely included so that the recommendation to get a HVAC inspection completed becomes “white noise” to a potential home buyer.”
See their Web site at: http://www.homewarrantyinc.com/get-a-hvac-inspection

It is recommended that you use HVAC contractors to conduct “comprehensive” examinations of components and systems to determine whether they are working properly.
The role of an HVAC inspector is to assess the cleanliness and structural integrity of an HVAC system. Inspectors search for obstructions, excess moisture and microbial contamination in the HVAC system.
FHA Guidelines
When inspecting the HVAC home systems look for the following issues. FHA suggests that these issues may indicate unacceptable property condition.
Furnace/Heating System:
The home’s heating system must be in working condition and provide heat to all rooms in the property. If the property is heated by one or multiple heat stoves, the inspector will verify that these stoves can keep every room at a minimum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Wood stoves or furnaces must have chimneys that are in good condition, and wood stove chimneys must have chimney liners and be free of buildup.
• Unit does not turn on
• Heat is not emitted
• Unusual noise
• Smoke or irregular smell
• Significant holes or deterioration on unit
ENERGY STAR Home HVAC System Checklists
The Energy Star Web site has several HVAC checklists for different types of inspections that you may download or print.

Click the following link to view the checklists: http://http://www.gobookee.net/hvac-system-inspection-checklist/

inspection pass

WiFi Thermostats

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WI-FI THERMOSTATS

By Betty Stephens owner of Quest Media

 

Now you can buy a Wi-Fi thermostat” (or “ip thermostat”, “internet thermostat”, etc.) which allows you to control your thermostat settings remotely, it can be controlled from a computer or even your iPhone or Smartphone!

 

With the use of smartphones and laptops now there are ways to put them to work for us in controlling our thermostats. Many companies are putting resources toward creating home wireless thermostats that can be controlled with a Smartphone or computer. Now you can adjust the temperature even when you’re away from home, allowing you to control your heating and air conditioning temperatures and save money no matter where you are.  Scheduling when to heat or cool your home is environmentally friendly, saves you money and is easy to do.

 

The easiest way to reduce your energy bills is to lower your thermostat when the house is empty. For people who work most of the day, set your thermostat much lower (or higher for cooling) during the hours you are gone. Then have a more comfortable temperature kick in about half an hour before you arrive home.

 

The Wi-Fi thermostat allows you to schedule heating and cooling using a connection to the Internet from a home broadband connection, Utilities can also operate demand response programs through the thermostat, where consumers get a rebate for allowing the utility to change thermostat settings to lower energy use during peak times.

The hope is that easy-to-use Smartphone and tablet apps, which let people remotely, control their heating and cooling, will increase the participation in efficiency and demand response programs. The arrival of popular Wi-Fi thermostat and apps to program thermostats helps make them more consumer-friendly.

Once properly installed, the radio transmitter chip inside the thermostat allows you to connect to your laptop or iPhone using your Wi-Fi network. You are then able to control the thermostat remotely. Even with the thermostats technical advances, it works with all modern central air conditioning units, making it compatible with your home no matter how old.

Wi-Fi Thermostats Features

 

Here are some features you should look for when installing a Wi-Fi thermostat:

 

  1. Scheduling & Programming:

A top-ranking Wi-Fi thermostat should be able to schedule a variety of preferred temperatures based on several weekly or daily programs, such as a seven-day schedule or a weekday and weekend program.

  1. Design:

The best Wi-Fi thermostats have a sleek, modern look and are easily integrated into most home designs. Top-ranking thermostats have a touch screen display.

  1. Features:

The best Wi-Fi thermostats have advanced features, such as multiple heating and cooling stages, vacation features, a clock, a humidity sensor, an outside temperature display, and compatibility with a mobile app.  It offers internet connectivity via Wi-Fi, mobile apps for remote management, and “learning” features that let it auto-program itself based on your habits.

  1. Warranty & Support:

The best Wi-Fi thermostats are backed by a strong warranty. Manufacturers should offer FAQs, online support forums, and installation documents and other helps on their websites.

Costs

 

The Wi-Fi thermostat tends to be expensive. They retails from $200 to $500 depending on the model and features you want.  Some models require a professional contractor to come and install so they can get expensive.  Almost any smart thermostat will require more money at the outset than a simple programmable model. Some are designed so you can install them yourself.