As per the International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection set by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, B to B Home Inspections will inspect the home’s heating and air conditioning abiding by the following:
Ed Lawton, the inspector at B to B Home Inspections, shall inspect the following heating components. At the time of this part of the inspection, the inspector will inspect the heating system, using normal operating controls.
Description
The inspector shall describe:
- the location of the thermostat for the heating system;
- the energy source; and
- the heating method.
Report
The inspector shall report as in need of correction any heating system that did not operate and if the heating system was deemed inaccessible.
Please note, the inspector is not required to:
- inspect or evaluate the interior of flues or chimneys, fire chambers, heat exchangers, combustion air systems, fresh-air intakes, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, electronic air filters, geothermal systems, or solar heating systems.
- inspect fuel tanks or underground or concealed fuel supply systems.
- determine the uniformity, temperature, flow, balance, distribution, size, capacity, BTU, or supply adequacy of the heating system.
- light or ignite pilot flames.
- activate heating, heat pump systems, or other heating systems when ambient temperatures or other circumstances are not conducive to safe operation or may damage the equipment.
- override electronic thermostats.
- evaluate fuel quality.
- verify thermostat calibration, heat anticipation, or automatic setbacks, timers, programs or clocks.
As Per NJ State Standards
When inspecting the heating system, a home inspector shall:
1) Inspect:
i) Installed heating equipment and energy sources, without determining heat supply adequacy or distribution balance, and without operating automatic safety controls or operating heat pumps when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause damage to the pumps, and excluding humidifiers, electronic air filters and solar heating systems;
ii) Combustion vent systems and chimneys, excluding interiors of flues or chimneys;
iii) Fuel storage tanks, excluding propane and underground storage tanks; and
iv) Visible and accessible portions of the heat exchanger; and
2) Describe:
i) Heating equipment and distribution type; and
ii) Energy sources.
When inspecting fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, a home inspector shall:
1) Inspect:
i) Fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, without testing draft characteristics, excluding fire screens and doors, seals and gaskets, automatic fuel feed devices, mantles and non-structural fireplace surrounds, combustion make-up air devices, or gravity fed and fan assisted heat distribution systems; and
ii) Chimneys and combustion vents excluding interiors of flues and chimneys; and
2) Describe:
i) Type of fireplaces and/or solid fuel burning appliances;
ii) Energy source; and
iii) Visible evidence of improper draft characteristics.
References
“International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection.” InterNACHI. N.p., June 2013. Web. 07 June 2016.
“13:40-15.16 STANDARDS OF PRACTICE.” NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: HOME INSPECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Home Inspection Advisory Committee (n.d.): n. pag. NJ Consumer Affairs. 20 Apr. 2015. Web.
Air Conditioning
Ed Lawton, the inspector at B to B Home Inspections, shall inspect the following cooling components. At the time of this part of the inspection, the inspector will inspect the cooling system, using normal operating controls.
Description
The inspector shall describe:
- the location of the thermostat for the cooling system; and
- the cooling method.
Report
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- any cooling system that did not operate; and
- if the cooling system was deemed inaccessible.
Please note, the inspector is not required to:
- determine the uniformity, temperature, flow, balance, distribution, size, capacity, BTU, or supply adequacy of the cooling system.
- inspect portable window units, through-wall units, or electronic air filters.
- operate equipment or systems if the exterior temperature is below 65° Fahrenheit, or when other circumstances are not conducive to safe operation or may damage the equipment.
- inspect or determine thermostat calibration, cooling anticipation, or automatic setbacks or clocks.
- examine electrical current, coolant fluids or gases, or coolant leakage.
As Per NJ State Standards
When inspecting the cooling system, a home inspector shall:
1) Inspect:
i) Central cooling system, excluding electronic air filters and excluding determination of cooling supply adequacy or distribution balance and without operating central cooling equipment when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause damage to the cooling equipment;
ii) Permanently installed hard-wired, through-wall individual cooling systems; and
iii) Energy sources; and
2) Describe:
i) Cooling equipment and distribution type; and
ii) Energy sources
Reference
“International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection.” InterNACHI. N.p., June 2013. Web. 07 June 2016.
“13:40-15.16 STANDARDS OF PRACTICE.” NEW JERSEY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: HOME INSPECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Home Inspection Advisory Committee (n.d.): n. pag. NJ Consumer Affairs. 20 Apr. 2015. Web.