InspectAPedia ^®

Heating Problem Diagnosis: Heating System Inspection, Repair, Maintenance HeatAPedia © How to inspect a heating system furnace, boiler, electric heat, heat pump, or other heating equipment How to diagnose loss of heat, cold radiators, cold furnace air, noises, smells, all other heating problems Gas piping hazards, repairs Carbon monoxide hazards Furnace and boiler hazards, safety recalls Oil tanks, how to find, inspect, test, remove buried and above ground heating oil tanks Chimney and vent safety, product recalls, inspection; chimney soot & draft problem diagnosis, repair How to save money on heating costs Home inspection heating system inspection procedre & heating system report language

This website answers most questions about all types of heating systems and gives important inspection, safety, and repair advice. The heating system articles provided at this website explain how to inspect and detect defects and hazards on heating systems, boilers, furnaces, and other equipment. Methods for saving on heating cost and on improving heating safety are included. Heating safety hazards such as carbon monoxide gas leaks, unsafe furnaces, furnace and boiler recalls are addressed. If you don't know what kind of heat your building uses, see our introduction at BOILERS, HEATING. If your heating system is not working properly, see NO HEAT - BOILER / FURNACE DIAGNOSIS.

Potentially very costly environmental hazards such as leaky oil tanks are explained in depth. Other environmental and indoor air quality topics affected by residential and light commercial heating systems are explored. Criticism and content suggestions are invited from heating service technicians, home inspectors, and home owners. © 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 System Inspection Methods, Diagnosis, Safety, Repairs

Use links just below or 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.

How to Inspect Heating Systems

• Heating System Inspection & Repair Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Boilers and Furnaces Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems] - this is our detailed heating system inspection course

Heating System Inspection & Diagnosis Detailed Articles

• See links at page left for complete index to online articles on heating system inspection, diagnosis, repair
• Air Duct Systems for Heating & Cooling - duct defects, inspections, repairs, duct cleaning, flooded ducts, leaky air ducts, moldy duct systems, indoor air quality
• Asbestos Paper Duct Insulation
• Blueray Heating Boilers/Furnaces Safety Recall by the US CPSC, with additional history, photos, and technical details; Blue Flame Blue Ray
• Boiler Controls & Switches: a description of heating boiler controls and switches, what they do, how to set them, what problems to watch for
• Boiler Leaks, Corrosion, Stains: where to look for leaks on heating boilers, which leaks are important, dangerous, costly, & what to do about leaks at a heating boiler
• Boilers, Heating Inspection, Diagnosis, Repair - controls, diagnosis, inspection, repair, service of hot water heating systems
• Boiler Operation Details, 39 steps in how a heating boiler works
• Boiler Operating Problem Diagnosis examples of defects on hot water heating boiler systems and how to recognize them
• Blower Fan AUTO ON controls for air conditioning or heating blower fan units
• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, building inspection for CO hazards
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Warning - Chimney Safety: US CPSC safety warning [Home Heating System Should Be Checked for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - clarifying notes by DJF]
• Chimneys & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe - chimney movement, chimney cracks, chimney safety inspection, chimney cleaning, draft problem diagnosis & repair
• DIAGNOSE DARK STAINS on Indoor Surfaces, how to diagnose stains on walls, floors, carpets, and how to determine the stain source
• Ducts - Asbestos Transite Pipe
• Dust from HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
• ELECTRIC HEAT installation, diagnosis, repair guide for baseboard heat, electric furnaces, electric boilers, etc.
• Fan AUTO ON controls for air conditioning or heating blower fan units
• FAN LIMIT SWITCH control on heating furnaces
• Furnaces, Heating Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair - controls, diagnosis, inspection, repair, service of warm air heating systems
• Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
• Heating Fuel Costs Compared: A Comparison of Current Energy Costs: Heating Oil, Natural Gas, Firewood for a table comparing the cost per BTU of different heating fuels.
• Heating Cost Reduction Advice: How to Save on Home Heating Costs - Book Review & Actual Heating Savings and Energy Savings Tips for homeowners and service technicians
• Heating System Inspection & Repair Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Boilers and Furnaces Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
• Heating Loss Diagnosis: How to diagnose loss of heat, when the oil burner, boiler, or furnace won't run, or when the system runs but heat is not delivered to the living area
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Gas Fuel Piping or Tank Faults Basic advice - home inspection report language suggestions
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Buried Oil Tanks, Basic home buyer advice - home inspection report language suggestions
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping
• Hot Water Systems - Tankless Coils - on hydronic or steam boilers for making domestic hot water
• How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building
• Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
• NO HEAT - Boiler & Furnace Diagnosis Guide - where to start in figuring out why the heating system is not working
• Oil Burner Noise, Smoke, Odor Diagnosis: how to diagnose oil burner noises, smoke, odors, sooting, and which conditions are potentially dangerous, requiring prompt service or repair
• Odors From Heating Systems - a list of articles addressing the sources of odors produced by various types of heating systems - how to find, diagnose, and correct these possibly dangerous conditions.
• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• OIL TANK GAUGES - how to find, test, and read the gauge on a heating oil tank
• Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Radiant Heat Floor Mistakes to Avoid - don't let these foolish installation errors ruin your radiant heat floor system
• Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
• Safety During Heating Inspections guide and tips
• Stain Diagnosis on Indoor Surfaces, how to diagnose stains on walls, floors, carpets, and how to determine the stain source
• Steam Heating Systems - care & maintenance, controls, diagnosis, & repair, safety devices
• Thermal Tracking & Stains & Signs of Heat Loss how to recognize thermal tracking or thermal bridging & how to diagnose Stains on Ceilings & Walls, Building Air Leaks & Insulation Defects, as well as other indoor air quality or building concerns
• Transite Pipes, Chimneys & Flues - Safety Hazards of deteriorated or blocked asbestos transite chimneys
• Water Feeder Valves automatic water makeup valves for hydronic boilers and steam boilers
• Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair

List of Articles on How to Reduce Home Heating Costs

• Air Duct Systems for Heating & Cooling - Make sure your warm air ducts are properly installed, not crimped, leaky, missing insulation, or contaminated.
• Heating Fuel Costs Compared: A Comparison of Current Energy Costs: Heating Oil, Natural Gas, Firewood for a table comparing the cost per BTU of different heating fuels.
• Heating Cost Reduction Advice: How to Save on Home Heating Costs - Book Review & Actual Heating Savings and Energy Savings Tips for homeowners and service technicians, gas & oil heat money saving tips, thermostat tips, tuneup tips.
• Heating System Inspection & Repair Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Boilers and Furnaces Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting, servicing, repairing, and tuning up heating systems for economical performance
• Heating Loss Diagnosis: How to diagnose loss of heat, when the oil burner, boiler, or furnace won't run, or when the system runs but heat is not delivered to the living area
• How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building - guide to calculating the rate of heat loss for different areas, insulation, materials
• NO HEAT - Boiler & Furnace Diagnosis Guide - where to start in figuring out why the heating system is not working
• Radiant Heat Floor Mistakes to Avoid - don't let these foolish installation errors ruin your radiant heat floor system
• Thermal Tracking & Stains & Signs of Heat Loss how to recognize thermal tracking or thermal bridging & how to diagnose Stains on Ceilings & Walls, Building Air Leaks & Insulation Defects, as well as other indoor air quality or building concerns

Critical Defects

Critical defects which an inspector should not fail to detect when examining any building component or system are defects which form an immediate, significant safety hazard or defects which are quite likely to involve significant repair or replacement cost, and which involve components or systems which are necessary to occupy and use the building. Methods for detection and diagnosis of these defects are discussed in this document and in its references. Suggestions for inclusion or exclusion of items in this list are invited - see the link "Contact Us".

Because the heating system inspection and related topics discussed here cover a rather broad range, I have not attempted (yet) to list specific critical defects on this summary page. However any inspection of the condition of heating equipment in buildings must include careful attention to:

• Life Safety Hazards such as evidence of unsafe chimneys, missing or damaged safety devices (relief valves, emergency shutoffs), and visual evidence of dangerous overheating or leaks.
  
  Responsibly conducted, an inspection of a gas-fired furnace, for example, might discover that the furnace has been exposed to severe rust-producing conditions which risk an unsafe heat exchanger and a carbon monoxide hazard which could be fatal to building occupants.
  
  Even though the heat exchanger may not be visible, the contextual clues around the furnace, if they are visually obvious, should be translated into a level of concern by the inspector, and where appropriate, translated into a recommendation for action. This does not mean "failing" every furnace to be on the "safe side", it means responsible inspecting and reporting.
  
  
• Costly defects such as evidence of a heating system at or near the end of its life of safe, reliable operation, or evidence of a buried oil tank which is likely to be old and for which there is no record of leak testing, should be reported.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^TM Website
• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
• Audels Oil Burner Guide, Installing, Servicing, Repairing, Frank D. Graham, Theo. Audel & Co., New York 1946, 1947, 1955 (out of print, copies occasionally available from antique book dealers and on EBay)
• Thanks to Scott C. LeMarr, for sharing his file of keys to decode Furnace and Water Heater Age from the data provided on the manufacturer's equipment labels. Mr. LeMarr is a professional home inspector, Certified Professional Inspector/President, MASTER Indoor Environmental Specialist (MIES). Vice President of Wisconsin NACHI. He and his company, Honest Home Inspections, LLC. can be reached at 262-424-5587 or by email to scott@honesthomeinspections.com

Use links just below or 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 SYSTEMS (see master list of heating articles at page left)

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

• Links to our list of additional information on heating system inspection, repair, maintenance

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting