What must home inspectors check regarding the mechanical ventilation systems?

Home inspectors are required to report on the condition of mechanical ventilation systems in visible and accessible areas. This focus on reporting ensures that potential issues that may affect indoor air quality or system performance are documented accurately. Inspectors assess what they can see and what is readily accessible, which allows them to provide valuable information to clients regarding the maintenance needs or potential problems related to these systems.

Evaluating mechanical ventilation systems involves observing their operation and general condition, which is typically what is covered in a home inspection. This reporting helps ensure that the systems are functioning properly without requiring disassembly or invasive inspections, which are not standard practice during a routine home inspection. In addition, the efficiency and capacity of these systems are typically outside the scope of a basic inspection, which is intended to identify visible issues rather than conduct thorough performance analyses. Disassembling systems for internal inspection would also exceed the typical bounds of a home inspector's duties and the resources generally available to them during an inspection. Thus, the emphasis on reporting the condition in visible and accessible areas aligns with standard home inspection practices.