HVAC & Mechanical Articles
Articles on HVAC & Mechanical from Russ Motyko, a Certified Master Inspector with 3,000+ inspections in Oregon and Washington.
The Outdoor AC or Heat Pump Unit: Overdue Service, Blocked Airflow, an Unlevel Pad and Missing Line Insulation
Russ wrote up the outdoor AC or heat pump unit at 135 houses. What overdue service, blocked airflow, a tilted pad and bare refrigerant lines mean.
Rust on Gas Pipes, Unprotected Gas Meters and Bonding Clamps on Paint
Rust on gas piping, meters exposed to vehicles and bonding clamps on painted pipe came up at 51...
Bathroom Exhaust Fans: Missing, Dead, Too Weak, Too Loud, or Never Turned On
A bathroom with no fan, a dead fan, or one too loud to use leaves shower steam in...
Condensate Drains, Drain Pans and Float Switches: Where the Water From Your Furnace and AC Goes
AC coils and high-efficiency furnaces make water every day they run. Drain lines into crawlspaces, missing secondary pans...
Furnace Filters: Dirty, Backwards, Doubled Up, Missing or the Wrong Size
A furnace filter is the cheapest part of the HVAC system and one of the most common findings....
The Metal Gas Vent Pipe From Ceiling to Roof: B-Vent, Rust, Caps, Bracing and Clearance
Rusted gas vents above the roof, stains at the ceiling collar, missing storm collars and caps. What Russ...
Where the Kitchen Exhaust Really Goes: Range Hoods, Microwave Vents and Their Ducts
Many range hoods and over-the-range microwaves blow back into the kitchen, a cabinet or the attic. What Russ...
Leaky, Disconnected and Crushed Ducts: Where the Heat Goes Before It Reaches the Room
Disconnected, crushed and unsealed ducts lose heat into the crawlspace or attic for years. What Russ finds under...
Backdrafting Water Heaters and Furnaces: How Exhaust Ends Up in the House
Why a gas water heater or furnace spills exhaust indoors: loose draft hoods, starved closets, big range hoods...
The Plexvent and Ultravent Recall: Gray or Black Plastic Vent Pipe on Older Gas Furnaces and Boilers
Gray or black plastic vent on a 1980s or early 1990s gas furnace or boiler may be recalled...