International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
|
|||||||
| Inspecting HVAC Systems Topics include heating, venting, and air conditioning inspections. |
![]() |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
|
Anyone know what to look for in a geothermal system.
I have an inspection on Thursday. Home has one Thanks Doug Cossar CMI, NHI Accurate Home Inspection Services Inc. Whitby Ontario www.accuratehomeinspections.ca 05021384 |
| Find an InterNACHI certified Arizona Home Inspector (and anywhere else in North America) |
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
|
Are you prepared to inspect something like this?
You can argue with intelligent people but to argue with a mush head is like trying to grab fog-Thomas Sowell |
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
|
Read this: http://www.hvac-for-beginners.com/geothermal.html
and don't look for an outdoor unit...there isn't one. If you follow the SOP it should be little difference than checking any other HVAC system. Thank God not all of them look like the one in the photo. Just be honest and if necessary get the owner to show you the system and how it works using normal operating controls. I have seen some over the years and they look pretty much like any other system except often larger, might be some zone controls, etc. It is not exactly the Space Shuttle so do not let that intimidate you. You will be fine. "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill |
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thanks for the link, Doug
I am familiar with the concept and understand how the systems work, however I have never seen one in real life. Just wondered if anyone knows what to look for as far as problems go, aside from water/antifreeze leaks. As suggested, my first thought was to use the normal operating controls to see if it functions and suggest to the client that he/she seek further info from the owner or a specialist as to regular maintanance etc. Mike Thanks for the photo Cheers Doug Cossar CMI, NHI Accurate Home Inspection Services Inc. Whitby Ontario www.accuratehomeinspections.ca 05021384 |
|
#5
|
||||
|
||||
|
I dont know too much about them, but I will share what I know. There are 2 basic types, a closed loop system and an open loop system. (called a pump and dump) A closed loop recirculates the same water through an underground loop where the water is "heated" and brought back, and heat is exchanged. This is the the more efficient, preferred and far more expensive choice. The Second, pumps water from a 4-5 in well, (or a series of wells sometimes) and exchanges the heat and dumps it in its own drainfield. One of my clients told me that his system (I think it was a pump and dump) costs him an extra 30 bucks a month to keep his heat on low all winter while he is in Florida. The initail install is staggering, however.
|
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
|
Annual service is recommended.
Here is more info: http://www.nachi.org/forum/f20/geoth...heating-14874/ InterNachi Awards Portal: http://co.nachi.org/inachiawards/ ____________________________________________ "An Education, not just an Inspection" Larry Kage, CMI Lake Ann (Traverse City), Michigan 49650 231 929 3525 Professional Inspector serving the Traverse City, Michigan area and beyond.
|
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
|
Thanks for the input guys
Cheers Doug Cossar CMI, NHI Accurate Home Inspection Services Inc. Whitby Ontario www.accuratehomeinspections.ca 05021384 |
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
|
Please Note:
rmaday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Where are the normal operating controls?
|
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
|
On the wall.
In this part of the country most of the ones I see are as complicated as the one in my photo and even more so. I recommend annual service by a a tech familiar with these systems. The cost of installation is huge. You can argue with intelligent people but to argue with a mush head is like trying to grab fog-Thomas Sowell |
|
#10
|
||||
|
||||
|
Please Note:
rmaday is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Quote:
I only verify operation as I would for a air heat pump system and recommend servicing annually by someone who is qualified to service these systems. |
![]() |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Need to know???? | cbottger | Canadian Inspectors | 1279 | 4/30/10 5:31 PM |
| Geothermal HVAC inspection | jacaron | Inspecting HVAC Systems | 3 | 10/17/08 11:46 AM |
| Age estimates for heating/cooling systems? | bforeman | Inspecting HVAC Systems | 3 | 2/12/08 2:19 PM |
| Geothermal Heating system | csteele | Inspecting HVAC Systems | 4 | 7/17/07 5:31 PM |
| Geothermal Heat pump | wwarner | Inspecting HVAC Systems | 0 | 9/12/06 3:31 PM |