Electric heat inspection, troubleshooting, repair:

This article lists significant electric heat defects, definitions, and home inspection education topics.

The building defects and inspection points listed in these articles also guide homeowners and home buyers to building areas that merit careful attention and often point areas of safety concern or important maintenance and repair tasks.

Page top sketch of sequencers in an electric furnace courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company [ carsondunlop.com ].

Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Heating, Electric

4.7   Electric Heating System Inspection Recommendations & Defects List

4.7.1 Knowledge Base for Electric Heater Inspections

1. Describe the function of electric heating systems.

2. Describe these types of electric heat: furnace, boilers, space heaters, radiant system.

3. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of electric heating systems compared to gas or oil heating systems.

4. Describe 120/240 volt single phase residential electric principles as they apply to heating,

5. Describe the features of  adequate installation and repair technique for each type of electric heating(space heaters, furnaces, boilers, radiant).

6. Define the following terms as they relate to electric heating systems: duct heating, plenum heating, watts, BTUs per hour, ohms, volts, amps, input capacity, output capacity, unitary heater, line voltage, thermostat, low voltage thermostat, staged electric furnace, sequencer, fan/limit switch (furnace), high temperature limit switch (boilers), fusible link (furnace elements), thermal cut- outs (furnace elements), sail switch, thermostat anticipator, relay, temperature rise, safe fill switch (boilers), radiant ceiling heating(four types).

7. Identify the codes or standards which apply to electric heating systems in your area.

4.7.2 Inspection Skills forf Inspecting Electric Heaters

1. Describe the inspection procedure for electric space heaters, furnaces and boilers, and radiant heat.

2. Identify the common defects listed on the next page.

3. Describe the implication of each defect.

4. Identify the safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home(electric shock, fire, physical injury).

5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.

Electric Heat System Inspection Checklist

Electrical Wiring Defects for Electric Heater Systems

• Aluminum wires used without compatible connectors
• Fuses or breakers too big
• Fuses or breakers bypassed
• Fuses or breakers loose
• Fuses or breakers missing
• Loose connections
• Multi-wire circuits on the same bus
• No links for 240 volt circuits
• No grease on stranded aluminum wires
• Open splices
• Wire not well secured
• Wire damaged
• Wire overheating
• Wire running through steel studs without protection
• Wires too close to ducts, pipes or chimneys
• Wires exposed on walls or ceilings
• Wires exposed in attics
• Wires under carpet
• Wires too small
• Wires too close to edge of studs or joists
• Wrong breaker for panel

ELECTRIC SPACE HEATERS Defects List

• 120 volt heaters installed on 240 volt circuits or vice versa
• Damaged or rusted heaters
• Dirty or bent fins on heaters
• Electrical receptacles above heaters
• Fans – noisy, inoperative, loose or dirty
• Inoperative heaters
• Loose or missing covers
• Missing or too few heaters
• Obstructed heaters
• Thermostat overloaded

ELECTRIC FURNACES Defects List

ELECTRIC FURNACE GENERAL DEFECT LIST

• Excess temperature rise
• Inadequate heat
• Individual elements, sequencers  or relays inoperative

ELECTRIC FURNACE MECHANICAL AIR FILTER DEFECT LIST

• Dirty
• Installed backwards
• Loose or collapsed
• Missing
• Wrong size

ELECTRIC FURNACE HVAC CABINET DEFECT LIST

• Mechanical damage
• Missing components
• Obstructed air intake
• Rust

ELECTRIC FURNACE HVACV Thermostat Defects List

• Heat Anticipator
• Damaged
• Dirty
• Loose
• Not level
• Poor adjustment or calibration
• Poor location

See THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING - home

ELECTRIC FURNACE BLOWER DEFECT LIST

• Dirty
• Fan belt loose, worn or damaged
• Inoperative
• Noisy
• Overheating
• Poorly secured 
• Running continuously
• Rust
• Too small
• Unbalanced or vibration

ELECTRIC FURNACE DUCTS, REGISTERS AND GRILLE DEFECT LIST

• Balancing damper adjustment
• Dirty, obstructed or collapsed ducts
• Disconnected ducts
• Excessive elbows
• Excessively long runs
• Leaky joints
• Undersized
• Weak airflow

See DUCT SYSTEM DESIGN SIZE & DEFECTS - home

FAN/LIMIT SWITCHES Defects List

• Improperly wired
• Mechanical damage 
• Missing cover
• Rusting or dirty
• Scorching 
• Set wrong or defective

See FAN LIMIT SWITCH - home

ELECTRIC BOILER Defects Checklists

General Defects - Electric Heating Boilers

• Excess temperature rise
• Inadequate heat
• Individual elements, sequencers or relays inoperative

TP Valves - Temperature and/or Pressure Relief Valves - Safety Valves Defects List

• No piped extension
• No piped extension
• Pipe too small
• Pipe threaded, capped or corroded at bottom
• Pipe dripping or leaking
• Set wrong
• Wrong size / capacity mismatched to heater BTUs

Electric Heating Boiler Enclosure or Cabinet Defects List

• Poor location
• Combustion clearance 
• Mechanical damage
• Missing components
• Not well secured
• Obstructed air intake
• Rust 
• Scorching

ELECTRIC HEAT THERMOSTAT DEFECT LIST

• Anticipator
• Damaged
• Dirty  
• Loose 
• Not level
• Poor adjustment or calibration   
• Poor location

ELEDTRIC RADIATORS, CONVECTORS AND BASEBOARD DEFECT LIST

• Cold when heat is on
• Missing
• Obstructed airflow
• Poor location
• Rust
• Too small
• Won’t warm up

Also see HOME & BUILDING INSPECTORS & INSPECTION METHODS. Use the Search Box at the top or bottom of these pages to find in-depth information about building, energy savings, and indoor environment inspection, diagnosis and repair at this website. Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here.

CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website.

These curriculae and building defect lists are based on smilar curriculum documents first prepared by Joe Scaduto, an ASHI member who prepared course material for Northeastern University's Building Inspection Certificate program in 1988, subsequently by DF, InspectApedia's editor, for New York University ca 1988 and later, with others, recommended to ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

ASHI did not adopt this material though currently that association as well as others offer extensive HOME INSPECTOR EDUCATION material. The curriculum and lists of defects are informed by additional analysis of the process of home inspection that was developed beginning Calgary, AB for Canadian and U.S. home inspector education and certification examinations in 1997.

Other early contributors to home inspection education in the U.S. and Canada include Dr. Jess Aronstein, Alan Carson, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, John Cox, Dwight Barnett, Douglas Hansen, Rick Heyl, Larry Hoytt, Bill Merrill, Kevin O'Malley, Dennis Robitalille, Keith Peddie, Pat Porzio, Roger Robinson.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Comment: 1962 AquaElectric Heating System still operating

Just inspected a house with a 1962 AquaElectric Heating System.

It is multi-zone (works with relays) Uses water in a baseboard cast iron heater.

Still works.

I recommended replacing the entire thing.

The Pushmatic electrical panel and the obsolete heating system.

Lawrence Transue

Moderator Reply

Thanks, Larry; as we discussed, it's important for readers to note that you reported the unsafe Bulldog Pushmatic electrical panel to the customer as well as the condition of the electric heating system.

Aqua-Electric, a Minneapolis company, who also appeared as "Aqua Letric Inc., produced electric heating devices in the U.S. with multiple patents filed as early as the 1930s, possibly earlier; the company also produced tankless water heaters, water treatment equipment and more. A bit of history of Aqua-Electric is in patent information such as the following.

• Rill, Clarence L., and Noah O. Rill. "Electric baseboard hot water heating system." U.S. Patent 3,277,272, issued October 4, 1966.
• Williams, Jr Herald J. "Electric baseboard radiator." U.S. Patent 3,192,360, issued June 29, 1965. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.
• Williams, Jr Herald J. "Electric heating control panel." U.S. Patent 3,176,194, issued March 30, 1965. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.
• Williams, Jr Herald J. "Self-contained electrical radiator unit." U.S. Patent 3,166,666, issued January 19, 1965. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.
• Gaies, Negus Frank. "Apparatus for purifying liquids." U.S. Patent 2,399,289, issued April 30, 1946. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.
• Eweson, Eric W. "Water softening apparatus." U.S. Patent 2,335,657, issued November 30, 1943. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.
• Lee, Negus Robert. "Method of and apparatus for purifying water." U.S. Patent 2,161,721, issued June 6, 1939. Application filed by Aqua Electric Corp. Ltd.

OPINION: About the Pushmatic electrical panel powering this electric heating system, the fact that the heating system continues to work is worth reporting; we'll be sure not to confuse a breaker that may not trip when it should or that remains "on" internally when you think you've turned it off, will not show up as a problem if it's not been asked to do anything over its life. Like a seatbelt that's torn - nobody cares before the crash.

Readers can contact Mr. Transue, a professional home inspector serving multiple counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

• Lawrence Transue is a Pennsylvania building scientist and consultant, a certified ASHI home inspector, a Licensed Pesticide Applicator, a BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Professional, with 18 Years of Home Inspection Experience. He can be reached by Telephone: 610.417.0763, by Email: lawrence@lawrencetransue.com as well as at his WEBSITE and at FACEBOOK

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Continue reading at ELECTRIC HEAT or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES.

BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS

Or see these

Articles on Electric Heat

• ELECTRIC HEAT - home
  • COMMON WIRE at THERMOSTATS
  • CONVERT LINE to LOW VOLTAGE THERMOSTAT
  • ELECTRIC BASEBOARD FEET NEEDED
  • ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEAT INSPECTION
  • ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEAT INSTALL
  • ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEAT SAFETY
  • ELECTRIC HEAT DEFECTS LIST
  • ELECTRIC HEAT BASEBOARD DIAGNOSE REPAIR
  • ELECTRIC HEATER LOCATIONS
  • ELECTRIC HEAT TYPES
  • ELECTRIC HEATER RECALLS CADET & ENCORE
  • NIGHT STORAGE HEATERS & HEAT SINK RADIATORS
  • PORTABLE ELECTRIC HEATER FAILURES
  • PORTABLE ELECTRIC HEATER SAFETY
  • THERMOSTAT WIRING ELECTRIC HEAT
• ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT

Suggested citation for this web page

ELECTRIC HEAT DEFECTS LIST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRIC HEAT

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