Inspection Of Fireplace, Furnace And Vents
Buying a home involves investing a large amount of money, and this is why home inspections are a critical part of buying a home. Through home inspections, a prospective buyer comes to know of the defects and the true condition of the home under consideration, and makes it easy for him to either negotiate a revised price, or opt not to go for the house.
Among the many things a home inspector checks, inspection of the fireplace, the furnace, and the vents is a critical part. Not only is the condition of these things going to help you reduce your fuel costs, these are potentially a health hazard for you and your family.
Fireplace
People have various types of fireplaces installed – they either burn gas or wood. The home inspector needs to check them, keeping in mind the safety of the people living in the home. In case the furnace is the wood burning type, the inspection will start with the condition of the chimney. Is the mortar in good condition, and are there any visible cracks? Are smoke stains visible on the mantle? If so, this is an indication of improper venting, and that the smoke is venting into the home.
In latter homes, the mortar has to be reinforced, and the chimney lined. In homes built after 1991, the wood and gas log fireplaces are exempt from having dampers in the chimney. Prior to 1991, the homes had dampers to prevent warm air from escaping out through the chimney. The newer standards of safety do not require dampers as they, in a closed position, allow the toxic combustion gases to vent into the living area. If the home you are inspecting is an older house and has dampers, there is no reason to worry as they can be held permanently in the open position.
Check if screens have been installed in the wood-burning fireplace to keep the sparks from flying into the living area.
Furnace
When inspecting the furnace, the first thing to check is the condition of the filter. The filter needs to be regularly cleaned and changed. Otherwise, the dust and dirt find their way into the blower and coil assemblies. This leads to reduction in the furnace's operating efficiency and eventually damaging the motor. If the inspector finds a severely dirty filter, it may be advisable to have the blower, coil assemblies and the motor checked by competent professionals.
The inspection of the furnace also involves checking the condition of the belts. Worn belts are an indication of lack of maintenance. At the same time, the condition of the furnace ducts can be inspected to ensure that they are clean.
Vents
Vents exist all over the home. They are found in the attic, near fireplaces, in the crawl spaces, among other places. Improper venting in the attic can cause the living area in the house to be overly heated, making air conditioning expensive in summers, among other things.
You may need to have all the vents inspected by competent professionals too.
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