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Here we answer questions about getting a home or commercial inspection, give tips on home maintenance, and share our knowledge about common home and commercial property issues. We are here to help you. If you can’t find an answer to your questions here, you can always contact us via our contact page.

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Category: HVAC Systems

HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

High-Efficiency Furnaces: The Hidden Dangers of Improper PVC Venting

High-efficiency furnaces are great when they’re installed correctly. Quiet, efficient, and cheaper to run — on paper. In the field? I find more venting mistakes on high-efficiency furnaces than almost any other heating system. And most homeowners have no idea anything is wrong. PVC venting looks simple. That’s the problem.

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Why “Right-Sizing” Matters: The Problem With Overpowered AC Units

Bigger feels safer to a lot of people. More tonnage. More capacity. More “headroom.” In HVAC, that mindset causes more problems than it solves. I’ve inspected plenty of homes where the AC system was technically powerful enough — and functionally wrong for the house. Why Oversizing Happens Oversized systems usually

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

B-Vent Clearances: Preventing Fire Hazards in Your Attic

Attics hide some of the most dangerous inspection issues because no one goes up there unless they have to. When I see a metal B-vent running through an attic, I’m immediately checking one thing first: clearance. Because heat plus combustible materials is a bad equation every single time. What B-Vent

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Boiler Systems in Historic Memphis Homes: What to Look for Today

Boiler systems don’t scare me — neglected boiler systems do. In older Memphis neighborhoods, especially Midtown and East Memphis, boilers are still quietly doing their job decades after installation. They’re simple, durable, and when maintained, incredibly reliable. But when they’re ignored, modified poorly, or misunderstood, they become expensive and potentially

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Inspecting Gas Lines: Yellow Flex vs. Black Iron Pipe Safety

Gas lines are one of those systems that don’t forgive assumptions. They don’t squeak when they’re loose. They don’t drip when they’re wrong. And when they fail, the consequences are immediate and serious. That’s why I slow way down any time I’m inspecting gas piping — especially when I see

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Humidity Control in Mid-South Summers: The Role of the Dehumidifier

In the Mid-South, temperature is only half the battle. I’ve walked into plenty of homes that were technically “cool” — and still miserable. Sticky air. Heavy feeling. That clammy sensation that makes 72 degrees feel like 80. That’s a humidity problem, not an HVAC problem. And most systems weren’t designed

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Assessing the Remaining Life of a 15-Year-Old Condenser

When buyers ask me, “How long do you think this AC will last?” I never give them a number without context. A 15-year-old condenser might have two seasons left — or it might be one heat wave away from failure. Age alone doesn’t decide that. Condition does. Why Age Is

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HVAC Systems
Wesley Upchurch

Why I Check the Furnace Filter First: The Ripple Effect of Neglect

Before I open panels, before I pull out meters, before I start talking about compressors or heat exchangers, I check the furnace filter. Every time. Not because it’s exciting — but because that one cheap, forgotten component causes more downstream damage than almost anything else in an HVAC system. The

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