Mold In Air Handler

by Southwest Premier on January 20, 2011

DEFECT: Mold in Air Conditioning Air Handler

Mold in general can be dangerous to deal with, however when you have it inside and air conditioner it compounds the problem.

Inside an air conditioner is a naturally humid place, as the air conditioner operates it pulls moisture out of the air.  Moisture removed by the air conditioner should drain to the exterior via the condensate drain line.  If an air conditioner is not draining properly (or even if it is), the high humidity can foster a breeding ground for mold.

The air conditioner in the photos below had a capped off condensate drain line so the moisture could not drain away.   Mold proliferated inside of this air conditioner and was spread throughout the duct system due to the air handler fan.  This creates a major hazard as the mold becomes airborne and is distributed throughout the entire home.

Remediation of a mold problem like this can be quite entailed.  Not only does the root of the problem need to be fixed but the ducts need to be cleaned and any mold spread throughout the home also needs to be removed.  Replacement of the air conditioner is often required in this type of situation since it can be nearly impossible to clean all of the mold out of it.

If you have mold in your air conditioner, it is recommend that you contact a professional remediation company immediately to take care of it.  This is one of those jobs that is better left to the pros!



This information was provided courtesy of Southwest Premier Home Inspection, LLC.  Reproduction in any form is not permitted without consent.  Copyright 2008-2010 Southwest Premier Home Inspection, LLC.

Southwest Premier Home Inspection is the Phoenix Arizona Home Inspection leader.  To find out more  visit our Phoenix Home Inspection website www.swpHomeInspect.com

Hail Damaged Roof Shingles

by Southwest Premier on January 19, 2011

DEFECT: Hail Damaged Roof Shingles

Recently in the Phoenix area we experienced a storm that was accompanied by allot of hail and damaging winds.  Numerous homes in the Phoenix area were damaged by this hail and wind.  Identifying this hail damage can be easy on some homes that were heavily damaged and more difficult on homes that received moderate hail.

Hail can severely damage roofing shingles (and roofs of all types) requiring replacement of the entire roof.  Typically it takes hail of approximately 3/4″ in diameter or larger to damage roofing shingles, however there are other factors involved.  The direction of travel, velocity due to the wind, age of the shingles and quality of the shingles can all play a role.

Shingles are composed primarily of a piece of substrate, such as fiberglass, cellulose or other material that is dipped into asphalt (this creates the mat)  and then coated with granules.  The granules protect the asphalt from the sun and elements.

When a large hailstone hits a shingle it can damage the mat, which is the “foundation” of the shingle. Once the mat is damaged, there is no adequate repair that can be accomplished to the affected shingle.  At the impact sites, the granules are dislodged from the asphalt which will accelerate the deterioration of the shingle.

If you have a home or are buying a home with a shingled roof in the Phoenix area, I recommend you have the roof inspected to determine if there is hail damage.  The hail storms were widespread throughout the entire Phoenix area and there were pockets all over that produced damaging hail.  Hail damage can be nearly impossible to see from the ground.

I have see homes with roofs that were installed the week before the hail storm that were damaged and needed replaced again, even a new roof cannot withstand damaging hail.

This information was provided courtesy of Southwest Premier Home Inspection, LLC.  Reproduction in any form is not permitted without consent.  Copyright 2008-2011 Southwest Premier Home Inspection, LLC.

Southwest Premier Home Inspection is the Phoenix Arizona Home Inspection leader.  To find out more  visit our Phoenix Home Inspection website www.swpHomeInspect.com

Water Heater Located Outside

September 20, 2010
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DEFECT: Water Heater Located Outside Water heaters located outside and unprotected from the elements is a defect we find on many older homes during our Phoenix Home Inspections.  Trying to make more space inside, many people just assume the water heater can be moved to the exterior and that it will survive the elements.  Weather [...]

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Smoke Detectors Removed

August 25, 2010
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DEFECT: Smoke Detectors Removed During our Phoenix Home Inspections we find allot of smoke detectors that have been removed.  It amazes me how many times I see this in an occupied home!  Smoke detectors are vital to the safety of the occupants in a home and therefore should be properly maintained and never disabled. One [...]

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Improper Water Pressure

August 25, 2010
Abnormal water pressure, found by a Home Inspector in Phoenix

DEFECT: Improper Water Pressure Improper water pressure takes two forms, high pressure or low pressure.  Different problems arise depending on which condition your plumbing supply system suffers from.  During our Home Inspection in Phoenix we find allot of high water pressure. The normal water pressure range is 40 to 80 psi.  Most utilities try to [...]

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Faucet Leaks From Around Handle

August 15, 2010
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DEFECT: Faucet Leaks From Around Handle A water faucet leaking from around the handle may not seem like a big deal but it can cause allot of damage over time.  You may think that this water is just dripping from behind the handle into the shower or tub and not causing any problems but there [...]

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No Insulation on Air Conditioner Suction Line

August 15, 2010
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DEFECT: No Insulation on Air Conditioner Suction Line A common defect found by our home inspectors in Phoenix is either missing or deteriorated insulation on the air conditioner suction line.  Below is more information regarding this problem. On a split system air conditioner or heat pump the freon line-set runs externally to connect the separate air handler [...]

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Water Heater Temperature & Pressure Relief

July 20, 2010
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DEFECT: Water Heater Temperature & Pressure Relief (TPR) The water heater Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve (TPR) and associated piping is a critical safety feature of a water heater.  The purpose of the TPR valve is to relieve the pressure in the water heater in the event of a runaway thermostat or other overpressure situation. [...]

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Dirty Air Conditioner Evaporative Coil

July 8, 2010
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DEFECT: Dirty Air Conditioner Evaporative Coil In Phoenix we find allot of dirty or clogged air conditioner or heat pump coils due to removed air filters.  Many of these are bank owned homes where the filter was removed because it was totally clogged.  Anytime we find a missing filter during our Phoenix Home Inspections we [...]

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Stucco To Grade

June 23, 2010
Home Inspection stucco to grade

DEFECT: Stucco Installed To Grade Stucco to grade can be caused by one of two things.  Either the stucco was installed all the way down to ground level or the ground was raised to the stucco level.  No matter the cause, big expensive repairs can ensue. While stucco is designed to withstand the elements, it [...]

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Nailed Down Rolled Roofing

June 17, 2010

DEFECT: Nailed Down Rolled Roofing Unless you are torching down bitumen rolled roofing you will have to use some nails but these nails are just a part of the installation process. Many people think they can just roll out the roofing material, nail it down, trim the edges and they are done.  A roof installed [...]

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A/C Condensate Drain Enters Plumbing Vent

June 17, 2010
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DEFECT: Air Conditioner Condensate Drain Line Enters Plumbing Vent On a roof mounted air conditioner, the condensation drain line typically either penetrates through the roof to a drain at the lower edge of an exterior wall or it extends to the edge of the roof and drips off.  Either one of these methods is acceptable [...]

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