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LARGER VIEW of an octopus furnaceDetailed Step by Step Procedures for Inspecting Heating Systems
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How to inspect a heating system for problems, safety hazards, operating snafus:

This article series presents a very detailed methodology for inspecting residential heating systems with focus on heating boilers and furnaces, on assuring completeness, accuracy, and on maximum heating system defect detection. The heating system inspection methodology involved is intended to be generalized to the forensic diagnostic inspection of any complex system in order to have the highest probability of detecting important safety or operating defects.

This sounds fancier than intended. Our object is to use an organized procedure for inspecting for defects, without losing the ability to discover unexpected problems as well. The heating system methodology discussed here includes both details specific to heating boilers (the full outline at "Contents") and more general complex-system inspection methods (listed immediately below).

© Copyright Daniel Friedman 2008-1993 all rights reserved -- Tri-State ASHI Seminar -- Last update 08/03/2010 - first presentation November 6-7, 1993

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Detailed Inspection Procedure for Heating Equipment

PREPARATION FOR HEATING INSPECTION - How to Prepare Properly to Assure a Thorough Heating System Inspection

These are steps in PREPARATION:

a good procedural order when inspecting any complex system involves these steps: Look (inspect, test, operate), Think, Understand/Speculate-wait, Write, Speak.

Article Contents

Preparation Begins Before the Heating System Inspection

Prior education & experience - prepares for the inspection by knowledge and attitude. Your inspection of heating equipment begins at or before the present seminar.

at the office - when order is taken (*)

Driving to the inspection

CONTROL ATTENTION - How to Focus Attention to Assure a Thorough Heating System Inspection or other Complex System Investigations

How to pay close attention for hours at a time: without the audible use of Zen mantras or other eyebrow-raising behavior the inspector must be calm, relaxed, and completely focused on the process of inspection.

Relaxation as an Aid to Attention During Heating System Inspection

On arriving at a building inspection in preparation for inspection of the heating system or any other building or building system or component here are some steps that aid in assuring that the inspector's attention will be fully focused on the job at hand:

Take Control of the Inspection Process

How to Pay Attention During the Heating System Inspection

Use techniques to stay focused, to avoid mistakes,

How to avoid heating system errors and omissions:

Outdoor Points of Heating System Inspection

Outdoor heating system inspection from a distance

Viewpoint #1:--Distant (from the heating equipment): walking around the house, from the ground, just looking, notice and record:

Type of Heating Equipment Installed

Age of the neighborhood, other inspections done in the area, age of the house, may suggest type and even the brand of equipment which may be in place. Builders of developments often purchased many of the same brand and model for all the houses there.

What Heating Fuel Is or Has Been in Use

ASHI 9.2.A.1 The inspector shall describe the energy source Identify probable fuel source: oil, gas, electric, coal, wood, solar Notice the oil filler and vent, spills, and whether or not there is easy access to the oil tank filler pipe.

Also notice any evidence of old, possibly abandoned oil tanks (abandoned oil lines, protruding pipes, age of property, depressions in the soil), or of changes from one type of fuel to another (coal bins). These have potentially major cost implications (improperly abandoned oil tanks) or safety concerns (changes of fuel, unsafe chimneys).

Venting and possible hazards noted from outside:

[Examples of "distant" implications] ASHI 9.1.A.4 chimneys, flues, and vents Look for, then at the chimney. Is there a chimney? If not is there electric heat, direct-vent equipment, or no heat? Thinking about what chimneys do lets you understand the implications of your observations. These items are examples, not a comprehensive list.

If there is no chimney cap

Masonry chimneys

Old stone chimneys

More information is at CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR.

Potential Heating System Problems Seen from Outdoors

More information: see Oil Tanks Home which includes articles on spotting buried and abandoned or leaky oil storage tanks as well as oil tank leak reporting regulations and oil tank testing and abandonment advice.

Heating System Operation notes taken from outside:


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Continue reading at INDOOR INSPECTION of HEATING SYSTEM or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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Suggested citation for this web page

HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DETAILS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to HEATING SYSTEMS

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