What is your HVAC procedure?

[sstowe]

What is your normal procedure for inspecting a HVAC system and is there anything you do that you find useful that exceeds the SOP?

[cbottger]

Originally Posted by sstowe

What is your normal procedure for inspecting a HVAC system and is there anything you do that you find useful that exceeds the SOP?

You have asked a loaded question here and not receiving any help. What can I do to help you. I can tell you up front what I do would exceed most everyones SOP'S

[dbucknavich]

There is a great thread about this somewhere. I will try to find it

[sstowe]

I thought it might be a loaded question though I was hoping to avoid infighting. I thought it might be interesting to see what different HI's do and how and why they do it. Just thought it would be a good learning experience for a lot of people.

[dbucknavich]

http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthrea...ghlight=method

This should give a plenty to read up on

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by sstowe

What is your normal procedure for inspecting a HVAC system and is there anything you do that you find useful that exceeds the SOP?

Turn it on.
Look at it.
Does it get hot?
Does it get cold?

Next..............

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by sstowe

What is your normal procedure for inspecting a HVAC system and is there anything you do that you find useful that exceeds the SOP?

I exceed the SOP because I get my Clients, the sellers (if present), both Realtors, and anyone else who is at the inspection involved in this specific aspect:

1 - Check that furnace is plugged in, gas is hooked up, and gas is turned on.
2 - Use thermostat to turn furnace on.
3 - Let furnace run for at least 10 minutes to check for short-cycling.
4 - Let furnace run until (a) sellers complain about next month's utility bill or (b) people start complaining about how hot it is.
5 - Turn furnace off.
6 - Check that cooling system is hooked up.
2 - Use thermostat to turn the cooling system on.
3 - Let cooling system run for at least 10 minutes to check for short-cycling.
4 - Let cooling system run until (a) sellers complain about next month's utility bill or (b) people start complaining about how cold it is.
5 - Turn cooling system off.

Always "heat 'em up" and then "cool 'em down." One doesn't want them all "hot and mad" at oneself at the end of the inspection, which would happen if you cooled 'em down and then heated 'em up.

This system is very good for preventing callbacks when the season changes:

Client six months after the March inspection - "My furnace doesn't work!"
Me: "It worked when I was there because everyone was complaining about how hot it was and asking when I was going to turn the heater off."
CSMATMI - "Oh, yeah."
Me: "Have you called the heating technician yet?"
CSMATMI - "Not yet. I guess I'll do that right now. Thanks, Russel."

End of story.

[Brian E. Kelly]

So when the heat pump runs for ten minutes in the winter and temperture goes up three degrees F what exactly does your client say RR?

Burrr I'm cold

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

So when the heat pump runs for ten minutes in the winter and temperture goes up three degrees F what exactly does your client say RR?

Burrr I'm cold

I have no idea. I've only had one Client call me because I've been using my system since Day One. The Client who called had done a rent-back with the sellers--for six months! Well, duh!

[cbottger]

Originally Posted by sstowe

I thought it might be a loaded question though I was hoping to avoid infighting. I thought it might be interesting to see what different HI's do and how and why they do it. Just thought it would be a good learning experience for a lot of people.

The only way to avoid infighting on this board is never post anything don't ask any questions. But what fun would that be. I don't think I have ever posted a complete list of things that I check might be a good time to do that. Have not had a good argument since the hogs ate my brother.

I will make up my list time permitting in word and copy and paste back here get ready to toe the mark--))

[Gary T. Heller]

I like this post because it brings up something I struggle with when I am doing an inspection. TIME. Every Inspector I talk to seems to be able to complete a home inspection in about half the time it takes me.

I inspected a house in Pine AZ on Friday. This house had an Amana 5 ton A/C with electric strip heat. The unit had the wrong size filter and dirty coils. It was 35 degrees outside so I could only test the heat.

To run the unit, test for heat at each register, open maintenance panels, look at the air handler and put the thing back together took about 45 minutes.

I know everyone is going to say they could do it in less time but my point is that it does take time to do it right.

My opinion is that every house is a minimum 3 hour inspection no matter how small.

[cbottger]

Originally Posted by gheller

I like this post because it brings up something I struggle with when I am doing an inspection. TIME. Every Inspector I talk to seems to be able to complete a home inspection in about half the time it takes me.

I inspected a house in Pine AZ on Friday. This house had an Amana 5 ton A/C with electric strip heat. The unit had the wrong size filter and dirty coils. It was 35 degrees outside so I could only test the heat.

To run the unit, test for heat at each register, open maintenance panels, look at the air handler and put the thing back together took about 45 minutes.

I know everyone is going to say they could do it in less time but my point is that it does take time to do it right.

My opinion is that every house is a minimum 3 hour inspection no matter how small.

I will have something in my list just for you.

Don't worry about the time; it takes what ever amount of time it takes.

I did a old two story on friday about 2500 sq feet raised floor started about 9:30 AM finished about 2:30 PM lots of talking clients present.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

I'm with Charley on this. Quit worrying about the time factor, develop a routine that works for you, use it whenever possible (because sometimes it won't be). I think many HI are over thinking the procedures. Ive said this before; I believe the reason so many inspectors take so long is because they are unsure of themselves and lack some of the necessary training to move through the inspection with confidence so they end up taking much longer than necessary, by being so paranoid and meticulous. Often I see where they fret over "why" a system isn't working. That is not your concern. If it isn't working using normal operating controls then it just isn't working. Our job is NOT to troubleshoot the equipment, but to report it, and move on. Electrical and HVAC appears to be the two weakest areas that HI get stuck on. Some concerns should be addressed as both of these areas can be very costly to make a mistake in. I see a lot of confusion regarding the differences between Heat pumps and Air conditioners as well. Some very bogus information has been put out by the HI courses and schools in this area. I recommend finding a licensed HVAC tech in your area (someone you can trust), take them to lunch and have a good sit down bull session with them about how you should be conducting your inspection. There should be no shame in admitting you do not know how to do something, but I believe many HI try to BS their way through things and do not want to appear to not know something. If I do not know something, I just tell the customer "I do not know!" I will often try to find out but you can waste a lot of time chasing rabbits for things that are really not your problem. Report what you see and leave the troubleshooting to the Pros.

[Russel Ray]

I tell my Clients that "It takes about 1 hour for every 1,000 square feet in order to do a good, thorough job." Always end with "good, thorough job" and you've got their attention.

In actuality, it takes about 45 minutes for every 1,000 square feet for a condo, or anything slab-on-grade, or brand new never-been-lived in construction. It takes about 1½ hours for raised foundations and anything older than about 25 years.

Exceptions are when the Clients bring their gazillionbazillion relatives and friends, or when the Clients came with their own list of a gazillionbazillion questions to ask. But those situations are rare.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dedwards

I'm with Charley on this. Quit worrying about the time factor, develope a routine that works for you, use it whenever possible (because sometimes it won't be). I think many HI are over thinking the procedures. Ive said this before; I believe the reason so many inspectors take so long is because they are unsure of themselves and lack some of the necessary training to move through the inspection with confidence so they end up taking much longer than necessary, by being so paranoid and meticulous. Often I see where they fret over "why" a system isn't working. That is not your concern. If it isn't working using normal operating controls then it just isn't working. Our job is NOT to troubleshoot the equipment, but to report it, and move on. Electrical and HVAC appears to be the two weakest areas that HI get stuck on. Some concerns should be addressed as both of these areas can be very costly to make a mistake in. I see a lot of confusion regarding the differences between Heat pumps and Air conditioners as well. Some very bogus information has been put out by the HI courses and schools in this area. I recommend finding a licensed HVAC tech in your area (someone you can trust), take them to lunch and have a good sit down bull session with them about how you should be conducting your inspection. There should be no shame in admitting you do not know how to do something, but I believe many HI try to BS their way through things and do not want to appear to not know something. If I do not know something, I just tell the customer "I do not know!" I will often try to find out but you can waste a lot of time chasing rabbits for things that are really not your problem. Report what you see and leave the troubleshooting to the Pros.

That's exactly what my wise old grandmother said, so I just quoted your post, Doug! It needed repeating, with emphasis on some select phrases and sentences.

One of the great selling points that everyone with InterNACHI should be using is this one:

"I'll be the first to tell you that I don't know everything there is to know about real estate. So if I find something that I don't know, I can take a picture and post it and a question at the Message Board for the International Association of Certified Home Inspections. With almost 10,000 members, I can have an answer for you within hours, many times within minutes."

My Clients appreciate that, and it is true.

It's a good selling point when someone calls you up and asks you if you're a member of ASHI, NAHI, CREIA, or whatever. None of them have the active Message Board that we have at InterNACHI, and none of them have the membership we do. This is powerful, Folks! Use it to your advantage. Marketing!