You ever notice how your air conditioner always seems to die on the hottest day of the year? Like it’s been plotting against you all winter. The truth is, these things don’t usually just “suddenly” quit — they’ve been giving warning signs for months. But most people don’t pay attention until they’re sweating through their socks and Googling “why is my AC blowing hot air” at 2 a.m.
When a home inspector does an air conditioning inspection, they're not just kicking the tires and checking if it’s cold — though, yeah, that’s part of it. They're looking at the age of the unit, the condition of the fins, how clean the coils are (spoiler: usually not very), and whether the refrigerant lines are properly insulated, whether they are leaking, have frost on them, rusted, damaged, and a host of other factors. Half the time, home inspectors might find AC units with the insulation taped on like a sad burrito.
Or a weird looking hot dog, like the one below, because the insulation is so damaged.
Then there’s airflow. You wouldn’t believe how many systems are suffocating because someone stacked boxes in front of the return vent or let the filter turn into a fuzzy gray pancake. Good airflow is everything. Without it, your AC works harder, burns out faster, and makes your hydro bill look like a ransom note.
If the compressor breaks because it was working too hard, well, that's the most expensive part of the AC unit. Depending upon the age of the unit and the manufacturer, it might be less of a hassle to just get a new AC unit.
And don’t even get me started on condensate drains. That little plastic tube that everyone ignores? Yeah, it’s supposed to drain water. Not flood your furnace room. A blocked line can cause leaks, mold, and sometimes a full-blown indoor waterfall. Proverbially speaking, hopefully not literally.
So, yeah — getting your AC inspected isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s like going to the dentist. A little maintenance now saves you from expensive pain later.
There are many different home inspectors out there, each with their own specialties, all certified, etc... But if you have an older home, perhaps a Century Home in the Durham region near Ajax, Pickering, Uxbridge and Port Perry then the one to contact is moffatinspections.ca, as they specialize in older homes, cottages and farmhouses that have a longer list of problems. So whether you are looking for a property inspection in Ajax or a home inspection in Pickering, call Moffat Inspections.
