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AC, Heat Pump, Hot W
What you as a home inspector should know about AC, Heat Pumps, Hot water heaters
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| TRUE or FALSE As a home inspector you are expected to have a basic understanding for the types of systems & overall operation when it comes to inspecting your clients potential house | TRUE |
| How do Tankless Water Heaters function? **One huge drawback is it takes 30 seconds or more to receive Hot water at the Faucets | They only heat water when it is needed. This in return avoids standby heat loss through the Tank Wall & Water pipes The basic units are usually electric or a gas burner surrounded by flowing water |
| What are the 4 main items that home inspectors should always observe and report on when it comes to AC's | 1) Type of AC equipment & distribution system type 2) Operate via Thermostat 3) open/operate access Panels 4) Observe & report on the condition of the unit and its components |
| What are the 9 items home inspectors are NOT required to observe and report on? | 1) Systems that are shut down 2) Window units 3) Coolant pressure or leakage determination 4) Adequacy of the system 5) Temperature > 65℉ the night prior 6) Not accessible 7) Dismantle anything 8) Measure Electrical Current 9) Electric Air Filters |
| What is the function of an AC System? | To change or modify the condition of the house air by lowering the air temperature and dehumidifying the air |
| How long does it take to and AC System to cool down a home? | A properly functioning AC system should be able to cool down a 4BD home by 10℉ in 3 hours ** This can also depend on the power, size, and age of the system |
| AC are designed to lower the temperature of a house by about ________ | 20℉ **If the outdoor ambient air is 95℉ & the Thermostat is set to 72℉. The house will only cool to 75℉. The unit will continue to run constantly until the house cools down and the system brings the temperature down to 72℉ |
| What are the 5 components of a basic AC system? | 1) Compressor 2) Condensor 3) Expansion Device (valve) 4) Evaporator 5) Refriderant |
| Name the 2 purposes of a Compressor for an AC system | 1) Circulate refrigerant through the closed system 2) Change the temperature of the refrigerant to super heated levels |
| What is it? Air to liquid heat exchanger, which air passes over the coils to remove heat from the refrigerant. This process allows the refrigerant to change from a vapor into a liquid | Condensor **Similar to how a Radiator works |
| What are the 2 purposes of a Thermal Expansion Valve (TEV) in an AC system? | 1) Regulated the amount of refrigerant entering the Evaporator 2) Regulates the pressure difference between the Condenser & Evaporator ** AKA Throttle or Metering Device |
| What is it? A device that removes heat from the areas being cooled | Evaporator **This component is typically located in the Furnace system. The refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas prior to cycling back into the Compressor |
| ________ is a substance in the AC system that circulates through the components that absorbs & removes heat | Refrigerant |
| What are the 4 acceptable alternatives per the EPA for refrigerants? | 1) R-134A 2) R-407C 3) R-404A 4) R-410A |
| Name the 2 refrigerants that no longer are used in AC systems | 1) Chlorofluorocarbons (Discontinued 1994) 2) R22 (Freon, Discontinued 2010-2015) **Freon will be completely illegal by 2030 |
| Name 3 types of AC cooling systems that are used in residential housing | 1) Integral Systems 2) Split Systems 3) Mini-split |
| Why are Integral Systems (window units) not part of a home inspection? | They are not part of the home **Similar to portable fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, etc |
| What is it? The outdoor unit consists of a Compressor, Condenser, & fan. The indoor unit consists of an A-Coil Evaporator mounted on a Furnace system | Split System ** There are 2 locations for a Split System A) Basement B) Attic (this is not ideal due to the moisture it creates (mold)) |
| How does a Mini-Split funciton? | Condensing Unit is outside and the Evaporator Unit is on the inside. Mini-splits mount on walls to cool rooms directly without ducts, reducing noise, installation effort, and operating costs. However, a major downside is they can leak inside the wall |
| What are the 4 steps of an AC cycle (Compression, Condensation, Expansion, Evaporation) | 1. Compressor squeezes refrigerant into hot, high-pressure gas. 2. Outdoor coils release heat, condensing gas into liquid. 3. Valve drops the liquid's pressure, cooling it down. 4. Indoor coils absorb home heat, turning liquid back to gas |
| How should a home inspector observe and report on AC systems? **No frost or rust should ever be on the unit, evaporator, or the evaporator housing - if there is, document as a safety concern | 1) Outside: Listen for sounds, inspect disconnect switch, and coolant lines. Condition Compressor & Pad is below. Insulation condition 2) Inside: Check for cool air via vents, check housing & cooling lines from the Evaporator |
| Why should an home inspector NEVER operate an AC system if the ambient (outdoor) temperature the night prior was > 65℉? | The units contain oil that is designed to lubricate the compressor and that oil is heavy-grade that works best in warm temperatures. When the weather gets cold, the oil becomes thick and will not lubricate the compressor properly Damages compressor |
| A ________ is a a system that provides year round conditioned air This system acts like an AC system during the hotter season & a Heating system during the cooler season | Heat Pump |
| What is considered to be the average range for winter temperatures that a Heat Pump System would work best in? | 30℉ - 40℉ (very mild) ** Southeast states in the US. A supplemental Heating System (electric rails) may be required when ambient air is > 20℉ |
| What are the 5 main indicators that differentiate AC systems from Heat Pumps | 1) Heat Pumps may have legs under the Compressor 2) Unit will explicitly say "Heat Pump" 3) You may see a Reversing Valve on the top of the Compressor with 4 lines going into it 4) "Emergency Heat" labeled on the Thermostat 5) MLS Listing |
| What are the 5 steps of the Heat Pump Cycle? | 1) Compressed refrigerant, increases fluids pressure + temp 2) Passes through condenser, liquid back into vapor as heat added 3) Filtered 4) Refrigerant through Evaporator, vapor to liquid as heat added 5) Passes through reversing valve |
| What is the main function of a Hot Water Heater? | Changes the cold supply of water into hot water. These are normally located in the basement close to a chimney (if one is present) |
| Any potable water source shall have a temperature no greater than ________ | 120℉ **Temperature of TANKLESS Water Heaters shall not be greater than 140℉. A protective shower valve(s) also need to be installed |
| What are the approximate temperatures that are considered dangerous and how quickly can they cause bodily harm? | 1) 120℉ -- 5 minutes 2) 130℉ -- 30 Seconds 3) 140℉ -- 5 Seconds 4) 150℉ -- 1.5 Seconds 5) 160℉ -- > 1 Second **Provided by AO Smith Water Products Company |
| Name the 4 most common types of domestic Water Heaters | 1) Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank 2) Indirect Water Heating System 3) On-Demand (Tankless Water Heater) 4) Instantaneous Water Heater |
| What are the 4 Fuel types that can power Hot Water Systems? | 1) Electric (coil) 2) Oil 3) Natural Gas/Propane 4) Wood |
| What are the 6 components that should be understood, observed, and inspected for Hot Water Systems? | 1) Heating Element/Gas Burner 2) Anode Rod 3) Thermostat 4) Drain Valve 5) Shutoff Valve 6) Pressure Relief Valve |
| What is it? Device that heats the water. Sometimes may have 1 or 2 electrical elements depending on the size of the tank | Heating Element/Gas Burner ** Located at the base of the tank |
| What is it? This prevents the tank from rusting through electrolysis. The metal coated steel rod rusts instead of the steel lining of the tanks interior | Anode Rod ** Generally coated in Aluminum Zinc or Magnesium |
| Water Heaters have a ________ on the outside that allows the user to measure & adjust the temperature of the water | Thermostat |
| The ________ is used to drain out sediment that builds up in the tank | Drain Valve ** Located near the bottom of the tank on the outside |
| What is it? This shuts off the flow of water to the tank | Shutoff Valve |
| The ________ prevents pressure build up to a dangerous extent | Pressure Release Valve ** The water inside of the tank is HIGHLY pressurized. This can cause great damage & harm if broken, missing, or attached incorrectly |
| What is the general fear of keeping a Hot Water Tank in the garage & why does it need to be 18" off the floor? | The pilot light or spark from the electric coil could cause an explosion if there has been a gas leak from a vehicle |
| How does Indirect Heating Systems work? | Hot water from the Boiler System circulates through a special coil inside of the tank & heats up the water inside of the storage tank. The water in the tank is used throughout the house |
Created by:
normandesch