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This website answers most questions about air conditioning systems:

• How to inspect air conditioning systems
• What are the limitations on inspection of an air conditioning system?

The limitations of visual inspection of A/C systems are described here. This website answers most questions about air conditioning systems. We describe how to inspect residential air conditioning systems (A/C systems) to inform home buyers, owners, and home inspectors of common cooling system defects. The chapters a this website describe the basic components of an air conditioning system and then we discuss how to estimate the rated cooling capacity of an air conditioning system by examining various data tags and components. We continue to add to and update this text as new details are provided. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

3. INSPECTION LIMITATIONS - Air Conditioning System Inspection Limitations

A home inspector is expected to at a minimum, perform a visual inspection of the cooling system and all of its visually accessible components, and to identify significant or dangerous defects. "Inspect" means "operate" or "turn on" if site conditions do not give the inspector a reason not to operate the equipment.

The ASHI, NAHI, CREIA, TAREI, FABI, CAHI, and other professional home inspection associations set inspection standards as do many U.S. states and Canadian provinces which license and regulate home inspectors. Home inspection standards generally do not require that equipment be disassembled, tested with instruments (amp probes, refrigerant gas detectors, coolant pressure measurements). In addition, the inspector is not expected to inspect any equipment, component, system, or area of a building if in the inspectors opinion that action is unsafe or is likely to cause costly damage.

"Non-central" air conditioners such as window units and "through wall" units (which are basically the same portable devices) are excluded from inspection by most standards. We would interpret ductless systems such as those shown at A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES to be equipment that should be included in a home inspection as these are substantive, permanent systems and they operate using controls similar to ducted central air systems.

These limitations apply to home inspectors examining cooling systems and heat pumps, especially if the equipment appears to be in dangerous condition (damaged wiring for example), or is in a "shut down" or "seaonally shut down" condition, such as operating a cooling system during low temperature conditions.

While home inspectors may omit certain items from inspection under appropriate conditions, the inspector is still required to explain that omission to the client and, where appropriate, to offer follow-up advice.

Below are offered example home inspection report wording describing typical limitations on the ability of a home inspector to examine the condition of an air conditioning or heat pump system. [Contributions and critique are invited.]

COOLING SYSTEM INSPECTION LIMITATION: We check for normal temperature differential between input and output air, unusual operating noises, visible damage or defects, and a variety of other possible defects. This inspection is not technically exhaustive; a more thorough inspection, also not technically exhaustive, can be performed by a qualified HVAC service professional, and is recommended when any defects or malfunction are suspected.

Here are some examples of warning language we might use in a report. A system is not considered "not useable" simply because it was shut down, but if it was shut down, not operated, and by visual inspection, has visible major defects, we would go further to explain this condition, even though the system was not turned on. A home inspector who sees that a system is visibly damaged, missing components, or antiquated, but who uses the escape clause of "it was shut down and not inspected" to say nothign more to his/her client, is not doing the best job for the client.

Central Air Shut Down, Not Tested Due to Temperatures

As the cooling equipment had clearly been shut down and because the weather temperature in the past 24 hours has been below 65 degF. we were not able to test-operate this equipment. Operating cooling system equipment which has been "shut down" without proper preparation risks costly damage to the compressor or other components.

Note: some compressor motors can be seriously damaged by being "slugged" with liquid refrigerant or by lack of good lubrication if the compressor is started in cold conditions. Some units, including heat pumps, are likely to have a heater band installed around the compressor motor to keep its temperature up to operating state in cold weather. If such a system using a motor heater has been left with power off for some time, simply turning it on in cool weather is not enough as the heater would need time to warm up the motor.

Central Air System Shut Down, Not Tested Due to Condition

To continue reading this air conditioning inspection guide, use links to the document chapters at left or below. Links shown in green font indicate where you are in this document.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Chapter Index

To continue reading this air conditioning inspection guide, use links to the document chapters at left or below. Links shown in green font indicate where you are in this document.

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