A/C Evaporator in Garage?

[jlangley]

I just did my first mock home inspection. The house has a split A/C unit in the garage (as well as a separate unit for upstairs). It cools the garage and has vents into the apartment attached on the same floor. Is this OK? Specifically having the air intake in the garage?

Thanks. Be nice, I'm a newbie

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

No openings are allowed in the garage - no distribution, no intake.

[jlangley]

Thanks, that's what I thought. Owner said a professional A/C company just installed it 6 mos ago. I take it no inspection necessary for A/C's, and the installers just put it where the owners wanted it? This is in Key Largo, Fl, Monroe County.

[Jae Williams]

Check with the local AHJ. If they say its OK, ask for the reply in writing--then you've done all you can.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Even if it was "approved" by the AHJ, it should be called out as a safety hazard - because it's wrong.

There are instances where the distribution system can supply the garage, but I have never seen it done properly. There are no instances (that I'm aware of) where the intake can be from the garage while servicing the residence.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

Check with the local AHJ. If they say its OK, ask for the reply in writing--then you've done all you can.

Huh?

I wonder why people pay to have home inspections in jurisdictions where the AHJ has already signed off on the building/remodelling permits.

First of all, AHJ's are not there to determine what is "right" or what is "safe". They are there to determine if the city/county bare minimum standard has been met.

Second, the home inspection report is written to benefit the party commissioning it, usually the buyer. In that regard, the inspector has a duty to his client to make recommendations that often exceed the bare minimums normally addressed by local codes.

Third, the AHJ has no liability for his decision to the client. He can be wrong and the client can be harmed....but the AHJ is free from all liability. Not so with the contractor who did the work that "conformed" or the inspector who went along with the AHJ's call.

No....I don't think you can find any worse advice than this anywhere on the message board.

[jlangley]

Great responses, thanks.

So I note the safety issue on the report. Do I notify my "mock" client of the hazards; carbon monoxide from cars, lawn tractors, fumes from chemicals, etc getting into the living space?

Is this also a fire hazard, enabling fire from garage easy access to the home.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jlangley

Is this also a fire hazard, enabling fire from garage easy access to the home.

Absolutely.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by jlangley

Do I notify my "mock" client of the hazards; carbon monoxide from cars, lawn tractors, fumes from chemicals, etc getting into the living space?

Can you sleep well at night if you don't inform them?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jlangley

Do I notify my "mock" client of the hazards;

If you don't, then what's the purpose of doing an inspection?

[Tom Leahy]

Originally Posted by jlangley

Do I notify my "mock" client of the hazards

You should be going over the complete report with the nice people that let you do the mock inspection. Presenting the report is an important key to being a good inspector as well. Practice the whole routine.

[Jae Williams]

In response to the responses to my post:

I would assume the inspector has already told the client of the situation. The question now would be be that the AHJ may well have approved the installation. If the client were to contact the AHJ, this is what he would be told--and the inspector would be questioned for calling it out.

That's why I suggested he contact the AHJ himself and protect his opinion. Then if something untoward were to happen, the inspector and his client would have the AHJ's opinion to hold forth if the matter went to court.

The installation is more than likely to be a dangerous situation, but merely reporting this to the client would not be sufficient if the client were to contact the AHJ--and he were to be told otherwise.

We may call it out as dangerous, but if the "expert" says otherwise, then we're off the hook because we called it out.

Well now, aren't we just hunky-wonderful. We left the client with a dangerous situation because the so-called "expert", or authority, says otherwise--and we can sleep soundly knowing we aren't responsible.

And that may be the whole problem here--CYA so that you're not responsible for whatever happens to the client.

I'm sorry, but I can't live with that.

[Jae Williams]

Come to think of it, I'm NOT sorry--I'm rather pleased that I have greater concern for others than that.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

That's why I suggested he contact the AHJ himself and protect his opinion. Then if something untoward were to happen, the inspector and his client would have the AHJ's opinion to hold forth if the matter went to court.

Huh?

A dime and the AHJ's written opinion would not buy you a cup of coffee. It means nothing.

Why?

The client paid you for your opinion.

Your reliance upon the opinion of the AHJ is between you and him and doesn't protect anyone.

[Tom Leahy]

Originally Posted by jpope

There are instances where the distribution system can supply the garage, but I have never seen it done properly.

Jeff, just for my education, what other instances? As far as a split sytem the only thing I can think of is having a complete system just for the garage and taking the firewall up to the roof to seperate the residence.