Size of the Airconditioner

[David Nasser]

How can you tell the size ? and is that
critical to a good inspection.

David
Pyramid Home Inspections

[David A. Andersen]

The model number of the unit and compressor.

It gives you worthless information unless you know what you are doing with it. It has nothing to do with home inspection.

[Greg Veal]

David,

I usually list the Unit(s) model #, which indicates the capacity. I don't comment of the sizing for the area served, because that falls outside our perview of H/I. It's good information for the Client.

[Barry Adair]

DN,

This depends on the question(s) being asked of you.

The most common around here are "How many tons do I have?", "How old is it?", or "Is this unit efficient?" All are fairly easy to answer but do not tell the story about the installed system.

Not all systems are matched size condensing unit and evaporator coil, but all should be run through a program to calculate the many variables.

Sizing info, http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/.../mytopic=12340

Preston Guide
http://www.prestonguide.com/

[ccbrands1]

Originally Posted by dandersen

The model number of the unit and compressor.

to elaborate, they're is usually a number divisible by 12 in the model number.

24 - 2 ton
30 - 2.5 ton
36 - 3 ton
40 - 3.5 ton

etc, etc.

this # indicates the size ( tonnage ) of the unit, but nothing else.

I always point out the tonnage in my report, but never elaborate on its adequacy in respect to the home...just report on it's performance the day of the inspection.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dnasser

How can you tell the size ? and is that
critical to a good inspection.

David
Pyramid Home Inspections

My state's SOP requires me to report the BTUs, if available.

[JLilly]

I list model, serial, tons, btus and age as a service to my client. I'm not required to do it.

[Robert J. OConnor]

Originally Posted by dnasser

How can you tell the size ? and is that
critical to a good inspection.

Originally Posted by dandersen

The model number of the unit and compressor. It gives you worthless information unless you know what you are doing with it. It has nothing to do with home inspection.

I agree there is not much an HI can do with the size of the system/units, but many do like to report that info just for their clients information.

Some use rough area/ton numbers from local HVAC specialists (they vary greatly depending on the region you are in) to see if the system is in the "ball park" ... but never comment on adequacy of the system. There are way to many variables, and even contractors that use area/ton rules of thumb as a guide to check their calcs adjust those numbers for site specific conditions (ceiling heights, windows/glass, exposure, insulation, tight construction, etc).

However on the other side of the coin, if you do report the size and it's not adequate, the client may later ask why you didn't report that (even though thats beyond the scope of a home inspection ... but they don't know that).

If you do include the size of systems in your reports, I recommend you make it clear that it's for the clients information only, and determining the adequacy of the system is beyond your scope.

JMO & 2-nickels ...

[David Nasser]

thanks, get well from your cancer...

[David A. Andersen]

3.2. Exclusions:

I. The inspectors are not required to determine:

D. The size, capacity, BTU, performance, or efficiency of any component or system.




2.5. Cooling

I. The inspector shall inspect:

A. The central cooling equipment using normal operating controls.

II. The inspector is not required to:

A. Determine the uniformity, temperature, flow, balance, distribution, size, capacity, BTU, or supply adequacy of the cooling system.

????