Homes, Mold, Air Quality, and Air Conditioning Inspections

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES

2008-12-07T13:07:00.011-05:00

PART THREE

5% CONDENSER COIL LEAK
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Age
Metal fatigue
Joint deteriation
SOLUTION:
If one leak, repair coil under 7 years
Recommend replace outdoor unit if over 7 years
If multiple leaks, replace outdoor unit

3% CONDENSER FAN
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Bent blade
Metal fatigue
Damaged rain shield
Vibration
SOLUTION:
Replace fan under 10 years
Recommend replace outdoor unit over 10 years

6% CONDENSER FAN MOTOR

REASON FOR FAILURE:
Age
Out of balance vibration
Lack of lubrication
SOLUTION:
Replace motor under 7 years
Recommend replace outdoor unit over years
Replace bearings if possible
Lubricate if required

3% CONTACTOR
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Age
Short cycling
Loose connections
Point corrosion
Open or shorted winding
SOLUTION:
Replace contactor
Install time delay
Repair connections
Recommend replace outdoor unit over 10 years
Replace coil

HOME AND MOLD INSPECTOR'S CORNER

2008-11-19T19:58:00.010-05:00

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES,
Why they happen, What they cost, And how to prevent them......

2% BURNT/LOOSE WIRE
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Faulty connection
Power surge

SOLUTION:
Repair connection
locate source of power surge

5% CAPACITOR
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Age
Leaking
Plate/insulator deterioration
Power surge

SOLUTION:
Replace capacitor under 10 years
Recommend replace outdoor unit over 10 years

5% COMPRESSOR
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Refrigerant slugging
Worn valves
Voltage surge
Short cycling

SOLUTION:
Replace compressor under 5 years
Recommend replace outdoor unit over 5 years

5% CONDENSER COIL
AIR RESTRICTION
REASON FOR FAILURE:
Dirt build-up
Plant debris
Bent fins

SOLUTION:
Clean coil
Straighten fins

THIS COMPLETES PART TWO. PART THREE WILL CONSIST OF:

CONDENSER COIL LEAK---------- CONDENSER FAN MOTOR

CONDENSOR FAN--------CONTACTOR

Remember your questions about these 23 problems are very welcomed. Just e-mail them to moldandairtests@gmail.com. I will post the question and find the answer. Thanks very much in advance for your anticipated partisipation.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

HOME AND MOLD INSPECTOR'S CORNER

2008-11-17T21:16:00.009-05:00

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES.
WHY THEY HAPPEN, WHAT THEY COST, AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

PART TWO

# 5 BURNT / LOOSE WIRE
# 6 CAPACITOR
#7 COMPRESSOR
#8 CONDENSER COIL AND AIR RESTRICTION

PLEASE BE PATIENT AS THIS NEXT PART WILL BE COMING VERY SOON. CHECK BACK IN A DAY OR SO AND THE NEXT FOUR PARTS WILL BE POSTED.

PART THREE WILL BE ON

CONDENSER COIL LEAK
CONDENSER FAN
CONDENSER FAN MOTOR
CONTACTOR

DON'T FORGET THAT ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE SENT TO moldandairtests@gmail.com

I WILL POST ALL QUESTIONS AND TRY TO ANSWER THEM. ANYONE CAN SUBMIT THEIR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT THE READER FEELS I MAY HAVE GOTTEN WRONG. I AM STILL INTERESTED IN LEARNING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN.

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES

2008-11-08T18:24:00.004-05:00

PART TWO OF THIS BLOG WILL COVER:

#5 BURNT/LOOSE WIRE

#6 CAPACITOR

#7 COMPRESSOR

#8 CONDENSOR COIL

THE 23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES

2008-10-31T22:04:00.020-04:00

4% BLOCKED AIR FILTER
REASON FOR FAILURE:

Dirt build-up

Pet hair

SOLUTIONS:

Replace filter

Clean permanent filter

Install high capacity filter

3% BLOWER FAN

REASON FOR FAILURE:

Dirt build-up

Out of balance, vibration

Metal fatigue

SOLUTION:
Clean blower

Replace fan under 7 years old

Recommend replace indoor unit if over 7 years old

Adjust alignment

3% BLOWER MOTOR
REASON FOR FAILURE
Age

Out of balance

Worn bearings

Lack of lubrication

Winding failure

SOLUTION:

Replace motor under 7 years old

Recommend replace indoor unit over 7 years old

Lubricate if required

Replace bearings if possible

6% BREAKER/FUSE

REASON FOR FAILURE:

Age

Power surge

Electrical short

SOLUTION:

Reset breaker

Replace breaker/fuse

Determine cause of power surge

THE 23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 96% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONING FAILURES

2008-10-30T14:56:00.020-04:00

This blog will be a 6 part blog series covering 23 things that can affect or prevent your air conditioner from operating properly. The first 5 parts will cover 4 items each and the last part will cover 3. This blog is not meant to turn you into a air conditioning expert but it will give a working knowledge of how today's systems work. It will help you talk with some intelligence the next time your air conditioning service man talks to you about your system. I would appreciate any questions or comments back just e-mail me at moldandairtests@gmail.com. We will add another section to the blog where we will list your question and try and present the answer. If I don't know the answer I will find someone who will. I don't need to know your real name or address but would like to know where you live. Remember we are trying to learn something out there so lets stick to the content of the blog with your questions.

We will explore these 23 problems, explain why they happen,how to prevent them, and what the options are.

Part one of this blog will cover the following:

1. Blocked air filter.

2. Blower fan.

3. Blower motor.

4. Breaker/fuse.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

2008-10-29T22:04:00.014-04:00

SW Florida is a haven for bad air quality and mold. I am a very passionate inspector. I have empathy for my customers. My home is a very comfortable place to live. I have special filters, dual bulb UV lights, allergy electrostatic custom filters, and my JMI line of pro active air purification machines. I want every one I know to have a the air quality that I have. I have two West Highland White Terriers. Winston and Bailey live in the house with us but you would never know it. No dog smells here. People need to take indoor air quality seriously. How can you put a price on your family's health, but they do. Here is one of the most ridicules statements I have ever heard, "once you get used to mold it's no big deal". This was after I showed him his mold impacted evaporator coil in his central air conditioning system. I am going to dedicate this portion of my blog as a place for clients to write in about their air quality experiences. All comments and questions are welcome. Write and e-mail to jacob@mermininspections.com. You don't need to use your real name and you don't need to give your address. I would like to know the town you live in. We can clear up old wives's tales and home remedies for mold control and clean up. Lets all learn something.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

Go to my online catalog at http://www.jminspector.com/ on my front page for the JMI air purification machines like the ones in this testimonial. You will also find all kinds of air conditioning products and services. The Jacob Mermin Inspections website is a source for valuable information. If you have friends or family with any type of breathing problems such as asthma you owe it to them to send them to this website. Remember: DON'T BUY OR SELL YOUR HOME WITHOUT A HOME AND MOLD INSPECTION. I see people every day who wish they had.

LETS HERE FROM DEBBIE FROM NAPLES, FLORIDA.

My name is Debbie & I am writing this letter to tell people how important the quality of your air is in your home. I live in Naples Florida & I have had reoccurring sinus infections for the past year or so. I have been to the doctor numerous times & put on almost every antibiotic there is. My doctor then referred me to an allergist where I thought my problem might be cured. In the end it just got worse so I thought I should have my air tested in my house, & sure enough to my surprise the air quality that I have been breathing was poor. I was referred to Jacob Mermin by a friend. Jacob Mermin is a certified home inspector and mold inspector. When he recommended that I have some air testing done and find out if there was something to be concerned about in my air I gave him the go ahead. He ran a series of indoor & outdoor air test plus he took a swab sample. They came back not so good. Jacob lent me 2 air purification machines, one was the JMI 3000 and the other was the JMI 1000. Since I have a two story house, one was put downstairs and one was put upstairs. They covered up to 3000 sq. ft. and 1000 sq. ft. respectively. Since I have had these 2 machines in my house my health has gotten dramatically better. I haven't had any sinus infections and I feel a lot better. There is no doubt in my mind that these machines (the same technology is used on the space shuttle and International Space Station.) is the reason why my health has gotten tremendously better. I felt so much better that I bought one of the machines. Jacob was very knowledgeable, and very helpful to me in my situation thanks to him I got my health back and my life! I would recommend him and His JMI air purification machines to anyone, if you might be having the same problems that I have experienced.
http://www.mermininspections.com/ac_parts_catalog.html
Sincerely,
Debbie

Note: This testimonial was based on a true story and situation. The EPA states that indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air. Most people unlike Debbie, live for years in an unhealthy environment. The first step is to talk to a certified professional. Every situation is different yet every situation is manageable. Jacob Mermin Inspections is the only company in SW Florida that holds certifications in Home Inspections, Mold Inspections, Indoor Air Quality Inspections, and as an Air Conditioning Technician. Jacob Mermin is very passion net about indoor air quality. He feels that “without air quality we cannot have quality of life.

Certified Move In Ready

2008-10-24T22:43:00.007-04:00

Here is a BLOG that I originally wrote for my group "The Inspector's Corner" at Active Rain. Because Lee County, especially portions of Cape Coral, Fl. have the most foreclosures of any area in the United States I felt it was important to re-post several of my inspection blogs. This blog is all about a inspection program I have available in SW Florida called MOVE IN CERTIFIED, I hope it answers and also creates questions for all who read it. Please feel free to comment on this and all of my blog posts.

NACHI, National Association of Certified Home Inspectors is now called the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. InterNachi has a new program called Certified Move In Ready. Real Estate professionals are encouraged to recommend to their sellers to have their properties inspected when it's put on the market. There are numerous advantages to the realtor and the seller. You as the realtor can recommend me a InterNachi certified home inspector instead of being at the mercy of the buyer's inspector. Your sellers can schedule the inspection at their convenience, directly with me, with little effort on your part. Your sellers can assist me during the inspection, something not normally done during a buyer's inspection. Your sellers can have me correct any misstatements in my reports before I generate them. My reports help sellers see their home through the eyes of a critical, third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about the asking price. I will alert you to any immediate safety issues I find before other agents and potential buyers tour the homes I inspect. Repairs made ahead of time might make your listings show better. My reports provide third-party, unbiased opinions to offer to potential buyers. My reports can be used as marketing tools to help sell homes. My reports might relieve prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before the walk away. Seller inspections reduce the need for negotiations and 11th- hour re negotiations. Seller inspections relieve you of having to hurriedly procure repair estimates or schedule repairs. My reports might encourage buyers to waive their inspection contingencies. Your deals are less likely to fall apart the way they often do when buyer's inspections unexpectedly reveal problems, last minute. My reports provide full-disclosure protection from future legal claims. A seller inspection reveals problems ahead of time which: Might make the home show better, gives the seller time to make repairs and show the repair estimates or paid invoices removes over-inflated buyer procured estimates from the negotiation table. Jacob Mermin Inspections promotes the Move In Certified Program. Each inspection includes the home Inspection, a mold inspection, a IAQ inspection,and a HVAC inspection. After the inspections are complete a sign is placed in your sellers yard next to your real estate sign stating this home is Certified Move In Ready.

Feel free to go to my website for answers to all questions concerning, Home Inspections, Mold Inspections, Indoor Air Quality Inspections, and HVAC Inspections. At my site you can watch a video on how duct cleaning is done. You can actually see how the new Carrier Air Cleaners work. At http://www.mermininspections.com/ you can visit my online catalog and learn all about JMI's own line of air purification products such as the JMI3000 and the JMI 1000. These two air purifiers are pro active machines sending out purifying properties, not just waiting for something to run into it such as air filters do. Also on this online catalog you can find numerous air conditioning parts such as surge protectors and an assortment of start assist capacitors. Future blogs will feature many of these items. Jacob Mermin is the owner of Jacob Mermin Inspections. He is one of the few Inspectors that is a Certified Home Inspector, Mold Inspector, Air Quality Inspector and Certified Air Conditioning Technician.

Ultra-Violet Light, Fact or Fiction?!?

2008-10-24T13:02:00.009-04:00

Recently I published a blog on "The Inspector's Corner", my group on ActiveRain.com which has gotten over 800 views as well as being quoted in a thesis at Penn State University. I feel it is important enough to post again!

To discover more about the important information demomonstrated in these pictures, please see my blog on Active Rain. http://activerain.com/blogsview/425528/THE-INSPECTORS-CORNERUltra-Violet-light-Does-it-really-work.

Look here again to see the most important updates on this subject! Coming soon!

If interested in adding this product to your home, visit my online catalog at http://mermininspections.com/