In this video Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin shows you what home inspectors look for when they inspect the HVAC on your home. If your differential is too low it could mean that you are low on Freon or your system is undersized. You could have too much of a differential in which your filter could be dirty or your fan speed could be set on the wrong speed. If you are thinking of buying a house in Charlotte NC, Gastonaia NC, Hunterville NC, Waxhaw or Weddington please keep the folk at Home inspection Carolina in mind.

Preston Sandlin
(704) 542-6575
Home Inspection Carolina

Homeowners know that a great deal of energy is required to power heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, especially once winter or summer electric and gas bills arrive. In fact, as much as half of the energy used in a home goes towards heating and cooling the indoor environment.

The goal of an HVAC system, when operating properly, is to provide a temperate climate and the best possible air quality, delivered for and affordable price. Most homes today are equipped with central air and heating systems that maintain temperatures in al l rooms of a home they service.

Whether a home is new or older, the heating and cooling equipment should always be sized to properly fit the home. Proper equipment sizing is determined by your home’s heat loss during cold weather and heat gains during warm weather, and is calculated using a design load formula. To determine if an HVAC system is the right sixe, homeowners can do their own calculations using software found at the website energystat.gov

A system that is properly sixed will prove to be more cost-efficient than an oversized unit. A unit that is too large will constantly cycle on and off, raising energy costs. Undersized equipment, with airflow that is insufficient, will reduce the efficiency of the air distribution and speed up wear on system components, leading to inadequate room temperatures and equipment failure.

However, installing new equipment isn’t always the answer when homeowners are looking to lower energy bills. Before an HVAC system needs to be replaced, it pays to review routine maintenance issues. One problem that can be remedied easily is stopping air leakage within the home or around air ducts. These leaks can be sources of problems rather than the HVAC equipment itself. The homeowner or a contractor can seal ducts and pipes by using mastic or metal-backed tape, or an aerosol-based sealer. Once any leaks have been sealed, the system can be checked for optimal air flow. When the air flows at proper levels, a home is comfortable and energy bills are more affordable. If air flow is too high, duct leakage increases and the temperature at the register is not sufficient for optimal home comfort. If air flow is too low, air distribution efficiency drops and accelerates the wear on system components, causing discomfort as well as premature failure of equipment.

There are a number of systems that can be checked when trouble-shooting HVAC systems. Thermostat settings can be adjusted to ensure comfort levels are maintained when family members are home and energy is conserved while they are away. Moving parts in the HVAC system can be lubricated for better operation and reduced electricity use. Evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils can be cleaned and air conditioner refrigerant levels can be checked and adjusted.

Homeowners also can extend the life of their system by staying on top of filter maintenance by inspecting, cleaning or changing filters at least once every three months. Filters should be changed monthly during the heavy-use summer and winter months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep family members warm or cool and that wastes energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system which could lead to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure. Routine maintenance can make a big difference in the life and effectiveness of an HVAC system , as well as the cost to maintain a comfortable and healthy home.

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In August of 2009 Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin was inspection a house near Concord NC when he noticed water dripping out of the condensation overflow pipe. This owner was aware of the dripping becuse of the stepping stone there but he or she may have been unaware of exactly what was going on. The primary line has clogged probably as the result of a dirty or wrong size filter. This dirt and debris gets in the coil as it did in this Concord home and drains down into the condensation line which cloggs it. The condensation ten overflows into a catch pan which has a drain that comes out the side of the house. This is what we are looking at here from this Home Inspection Carolina video. The primary line needs to be unclogged to prevent the pan from rusting. Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin says he sees this alot especially during the warm humid Summer months. http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com

Recently Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin performed a home inspection in the Piper Glen area of Charlotte. While performing the inspection he noted that the AC units where not level. If these units are nt level it will cause the lubricant to settle on one end and burn the fan motor out prematurely. For more home inspection or air condition information go the our site http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com

How smart is your thermostat? Probably smart enough to let you program temperature settings based on the weather and household activity for the week. But now, there is a thermostat that is smart enough to let you perform these functions via the Internet.

A “smart thermostat”, (also known as a digital programmable thermostat) lets you customize temperature settings in real time. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat, currently available for purchase on-line, refines this idea by adding a wireless Internet connection, so you can remotely monitor and control your home temperature from a personalized web portal. And since heating and cooling a home accounts for 70% of a home’s energy consumption, this function can help reduce energy usage and lower utility bills.

The Internet interface can be helpful to raise or lower the temperature a few degrees before family members return home from work or school. And it can be even more useful for controlling and monitoring temperatures while the family is away on vacation.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat allows homeowners to program their thermostat easily using its touch screen, or over the Internet, in seconds. It connects to a homeowners’ standard WiFi (wireless network), which provides remote access to their thermostat settings. A ‘wizard’ function acts as a step-by-step guide through the programming process using simple commands.

While an Ecobee thermostat is $385, the Ecobee website demonstrates that the device will pay for itself in energy cost savings within 18 months.

Please visit our website for more home inspection information: http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com/