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What are some items looked at in a home heating systems inspection?

What are some items looked at in a home heating systems inspection?*
According to home heating experts, hard-earned dollars go up the chimney unnecessarily because pre-winter checks and safety checks are ignored. You cannot expect any machine to work for a year without being maintained and similarly your heating system needs to be inspected from time to time.

 
Annual safety and efficiency inspections by a qualified service professional are widely recommended, especially if the heating system is out of order for most of the year.

 
The heating system inspection is included as part of our home inspection package. Our team of talented experts conducts certain tests to evaluate the safety and efficiency of your heating system.

 
External Heat System Test Points

 
Remote temperature system testing

 
Test – (Away from the heater): The expert will walk around the house, from the floor, evaluate and record.

 
Installed System Specification
The expert will identify the age of the installed system, other local estimates, the age of the home, and the type of equipment available are taken into consideration.

 
Identify Fuel Source
The expert will identify a potential energy source for the heating system: Oil, gas, electricity, coal, wood, oil, and aeration, filling solar information, spills, and oil tanks are easy or detectable.

 
The inspector will also carefully look out for pipes that are protruding, soil depressions and find any evidence of old, potentially abandoned oil tanks (abandoned oil lines, developing pipelines, age of ownership, lack soil) or changes from one type of fuel to another (coal drums). This can have a significant impact on cost (proper disposal of oil tanks). Other safety concerns such as unsafe chimneys are also recorded taken into consideration.

 
Externally identified odors and potential hazards:
Is there a chimney? If not, there must be some sort of vent to dissipate heat and reduce risks. These are examples, not a complete list.

 
If There Is No Cap On The Chimney:
  • Are garbage and dust blocking the flue?
  • Is the interior damaged by weather?
  • Did airborne rainfall on the flue pipe and onto the heating system?
  • Is it corroded? Is there damage to the fire room?

 
For Stone Fireplaces:
  • Damaged grip liner? Damage to condensation, snow, acid rain, sulfation (especially with gas-burning equipment)
  • Loose bricks have to be identified.
  • Unlined flue made from bricks (still common in large cities) - Risk of fire, leakage and can cause the flue to be blocked when damaged. Look in front of the attic and make sure there is a cleanup or lift to check if there is an obstruction pulled to the air connector.

 
Old Stone Fireplaces
  • It usually rests on a base where the heaters are installed, attached to the chimney base - which is easily blocked by fallen debris.
  • Water entry points have to be identified
  • Damage heating equipment
Outdoor Heating System Hazards

 
  • Leaking over buried or abandoned oil tanks or underground oil storage tanks
  • Externally used indoor tank
  • Risk of water entering the fuel from the filling station
  • Lack of fuel
  • Leakage
  • Access to the filler pipe

 
Given the safety risks associated with heating systems, it is strongly recommended to get an inspection done by experienced experts. Reach out to our team and book your inspection now!
A Home Inspection Frequently Asked Question
*Disclaimer: This article has been written by a third party and permission has been granted to Charlottetown Home Inspections to publish the article on this website. As such, the article is provided for general information and educational purposes only, and does not constitute advice. Charlottetown Home Inspections cannot vouch for the accuracy or completeness of the information. The reader is encouraged to do his or her own due diligence and additional research, and to speak to a professional home inspector for the most up to date, accurate and reliable information.
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