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Heating Inspection Safety Guide
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Here we discuss safety procedures and tips that are important during heating system inspections. This website answers most questions about central heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs.

We describe how to inspect residential heating systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects. The articles at this website describe the basic components of a home heating system, how to find the rated heating capacity of an heating system by examining various data tags and components, how to recognize common heating system operating or safety defects, and how to save money on home heating costs. 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 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Heating Inspection Safety Guide

This section describes examples of steps to protect the home or heating system inspector during the inspection of a heating system. It does not address safety concerns for the client/occupant or unsafe conditions on the heating equipment itself, though those are addressed in other articles at this website. ASHI 9.3.A. The inspector is not required to operate equipment when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause equipment damage [or in the opinion of the inspector, may cause any sort of unsafe condition (added by DJF, NOT ASHI Standards)

In order to be as thorough, accurate, and safe as possible, a heating system inspector should use a well-defined order of discovery which assures that s/he examines all important heating system components. Several possible heating system inspection "road maps" can be used for this purpose and are described at this website.

• Air Filter Shock Hazards: Avoid electric shock from the static charge at electronic air filters. - Home inspection standard example: ASHI 9.3.D.4 The inspector is not required to observe electronic air filter
• Backpressure or Flashback: Watch for flashback or backpressure at inspection ports on heating equipment
• Blocked heating flues: a blocked flue can cause the production of potentially fatal carbon monoxide gases in a building. A blocked flue case study is reported at UNLINED FLUE INSPECTIONS.
• Confirm Heat Operation Before Leaving: To avoid a future dispute about having been the cause of lost heat in a building, particularly in cold weather, if the system was on and running, observe and note that it was running normally at the end of the inspection procedure. This is important if your inspection procedure includes any action that may temporarily shut off the system such as testing a shutoff switch.
• Corrosion on Heating Systems Do not pick at corrosion on heating systems - you may cause a catastrophic leak that requires immediate system shut-down - which in freezing weather risks freeze-damage to the building.
• Disassembling flue vent connections: Do not disassemble flue vent piping - risks of filth, unable to reassemble, etc.
  Home inspection standard example: ASHI 9.3.D.1 The inspector is not required to observe the interior of flues [However often you can detect a blocked flue by looking through the barometric damper or by use of a mirror at the chimney cleanout. We recommend this step. -DJF]
  Home inspection standard example: ASHI 9.3.D.2 The inspector is not required to observe fireplace insert flue connections [Normally not visible. Caution: there is frequently a hidden problem there.]
• When to Shut Down Heating Systems: Turn off heating equipment immediately if you see conditions that appear to be unsafe, such as evidence of fire, smoke, puffback, or if you see safety controls such as relief valves, temperature limits, or flue gas spillage sensors which have been removed or modified, or if the equipment has already been "red-tagged" by a service technician.
• When to Avoid Turning On Heating Systems: Do not turn on heating equipment if you see any condition that appears to be unsafe. Some examples are listed here.
  • Do not turn on equipment which has been "shut down" - Possible open piping, unsafe wiring, leaks, unsafe chimney, fire risks.
  • Do not turn on equipment which has been switched off without explicit permission/instruction from a responsible party
  • Examine gauges (not entirely reliable) for unusual pressure or temperature conditions and do not permit such equipment to continue to operate
  • Do not turn on, or turn off if already operating, any heating system whose temperature/pressure gauge shows abnormally high operating values
  • Do not operate equipment which does not appear to be vented properly; shut down equipment if, on operating it, you observe an apparently blocked flue
  • Do not operate equipment if the chimney is suspect--e.g. old single wythe unlined brick with visible damage in the attic or outside
  • Do not turn on, or turn off if already operating, any heating system that is not safely connected to a chimney
• Humidifier Inspections: Be careful about disconnecting humidifiers to obtain access to furnace plenums: you may cut yourself on sheet metal, cause leaks in humidifier piping, cause spills.
  ASHI 9.3.D.3 The inspector is not required to observe humidifiers
  • But watch for humidifiers which leaked into and damaged duct work or onto and damaged a heat exchangers
• Lighting test fires: Do not light fires in coal or wood stoves to check draft, etc
  Home inspection standard example: ASHI 9.3.C. The inspector is not required to ignite or extinguish solid fuel fires
• Noises, smoke, soot, back pressure at inspection port (watch out for burns and fires if this port is opened), sloppy startup, rumbling, sloppy or delayed shutdown-flame lingers COULD indicate a very dangerous operating condition.
• Relief Valve Testing on Heating Systems: Do not test relief valve levers nor catch your sleeve on one
  Home inspection standard example: ASHI 9.3.B. The inspector is not required to operate automatic safety controls
• Shock Hazards at Heating Controls: Watch for electric shock at controls

...

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HEATING SYSTEMS
HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
BOILERS, HEATING
  BOILER COMPONENTS & PARTS
  BOILER OPERATION DETAILS
  BOILER PARTS LIST
  BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS
BOOKSTORE - Heating Systems
CARBON MONOXIDE/DIOXIDE
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS
  AIR HANDLER UNIT
  AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
  DUCT INSULATION - Asbestos Paper
  DUCTS - Asbestos Transite Pipe
PLASTIC HEATER VENT
GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
HEAT LOSS
HEATING COST SAVINGS
OIL TANKS
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid
RADIATORS
Safety Recalls
  BLUERAY Recall
  CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite
  Goodman HTPV RECALL
  Lennox WARNING
  Weil McLain RECALL
SAFETY DURING HEATING INSPECTION

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
• Dust from HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
• Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
• Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
• Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
• Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
• Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair
• Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
• National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
• The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
• Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
• The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
• Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
• "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
• Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
• Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
• Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
• The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)

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