"Nonny" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for suggestions on what to ask an HVAC person to look for when
inspecting the equipment on a home we're probably going to buy. I have a
pretty good idea on what to ask, but would appreciate your experience as
well. The home is fairly large, with 4 Heil A/C units, and 4 upflow gas
furnaces of unknown size. I don't have the model numbers of the Heil
units, but see they use Copeland scrolls. The house is 4 years old, so
the equipment is modern. I'll be getting an overall home inspection as
well, but am planning to ask a local HVAC company we used in the past to
come out to look over the equipment and to make sure all is right.
Specifically, what should I tell them I want done and what should I ask
for? The equipment is in two mechanical rooms, each on either side of the
house, so there's no attic work involved unless you think there's a reason
they should check ductwork in the attic.

One of the split units does the heating and cooling of a great room, with
a 18' flat ceiling. The dual filter return is on the blasted ceiling, 18'
up in the air. Rather than buy a tall step ladder for changing the
filters, would it be prohibitively expensive to jack the upflow furnace up
a few inches and slip a filter box under it? Have you ever done this?
What other choices are there for this rather impractical filter location?

The visit would take place during the "due diligence" phase of a purchase,
but before we would close the transaction. The power is on, so I would
expect the tech to cycle the furnaces and AC's to be sure they start and
run. During that time, I suspect he'd check the refrigerant pressures.
Would it make sense at that time to add refrigerant if needed, or would
you have him come back?

Any other thoughts, suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Well, the first thing Stormy would have you ask the hvac person is whether
he is a black person or not.
( see Stormin at his best in the replacing main shutoff valve thread)

Next, this is way over Stormy's head -- as are many things.

Next, you might actually get some informed opinions from the assholes on
alt.hvac.

Finally, don't forget to tell them you pinged Stormy on this on ahr.....

--
EA



--
Nonny
Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a member
of Congress.... But then I repeat myself.'

-Mark Twain
.