The Home Inspector

Does Your Inspector Open Up the Air Handler?

 

Though sometimes difficult to do, it is important for home inspectors to open up the air handler. For instance, the air handler 'A' coils in the top should have shiny fins. Instead it is clogged with dust, pet hair and possibly, mold. This cooling coil is so dirty in fact, it may need replacement, a costly repair. Replacing filters in a timely fashion saves money and improves air quality. The bottom photograph is an air handler cabinet in a three year old home with a serious mold problem. Mold could actually be seen growing out of ceiling A/C diffusers, suggesting that mold is travelling through ducts as well.

What Are Four Point Inspections?

Q:  I was going to order a home inspection on the house I’m buying, but the seller says he got an insurance inspection last month. Is that the same as a home inspection?

 

A: No. The seller is likely referring to a ‘Four Point Insurance Inspection.’ This is a minimal inspection requested by home insurance carriers to ascertain the condition of the home they are considering for insurance coverage. It does not in any way compare to a full home inspection.

The Four Point Inspection typically includes four major areas of the home; roof, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. These are the systems in a home that, when inadequate or outdated, have the potential to initiate losses for insurance carriers. Therefore, they are interested in the age, condition and types of equipment installed in the properties they insure.

 

A full home inspection includes the systems above and many more including literally hundreds of items.