A house I was inspecting recently had a high-efficiency heat pump that was virtually brand new. Obviously, there would be no reason to inspect it. The old furnace had already been replaced and everything was, of course, up to date now. So why even bother?
Well, let's call it "the ripple effect". When something is changed in a system, you have to make certain that everything else in that system has been changed accordingly. The old heat pump required two separate feeds of electricity, one a 30 amp and the other a 50 amp feed. The new heat pump required a 50 amp and a 60 amp. In the house's electric panel, the 50 amp breaker had been hooked up correctly to the heat pump. But, the former 30 amp feed was now connected to the heater components rated at 60amp, overloading the breaker, causing it to heat up and become a fire hazard. During the inspection, that breaker was buzzing and hot to the touch.
While you would be feeling all warm and cozy next winter, secure in the knowledge that your new house had a brand new heat pump, you would unknowingly be putting your house and your family at risk due to the faulty wiring. No matter the age of the house, no matter the age of the appliances within the house, you need to have a Complete Home Inspection done on the property before you buy. It's not your job to look for these little, but very critical, things, the "ripple effects" in the house. That's my job. You have enough other things to worry about when buying a house.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
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