Langley Home Inspection: HVAC Terms Explained

In BC, home inspectors are licensed by Consumer Protection BC, but there's no single standard report form, so wording varies from inspector to inspector. The heating and cooling terms below come up often in Langley reports. They explain what a note usually means; your inspector saw the house, so rely on their findings and ask about anything unclear.

Furnaces

Mid-efficiency / high-efficiency — High-efficiency furnaces vent through plastic pipe and drain water; mid-efficiency units usually vent through a metal flue or chimney.

Heat exchanger not fully visible — Inspectors can't see most of the heat exchanger without taking the furnace apart. A technician can check it more closely.

Rust or corrosion in the cabinet — Often from condensation or a leaking coil above. Worth having looked at.

Heat pumps and cooling

Heat pump / air-source heat pump — A system that heats and cools by moving heat between indoors and outdoors.

Not tested in cooling mode — Common in cold weather to protect the equipment. It leaves a gap rather than a defect.

Ductless head / mini-split — A wall-mounted indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit. See ductless mini-splits.

Venting, safety and fresh air

Combustion air / venting — Gas appliances need proper air supply and venting to the outside.

CO alarm missing — Homes with gas appliances should have carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas.

HRV / ERV — A ventilation unit that brings in fresh air while recovering heat. Filters and cores need regular cleaning. See indoor air quality.

Age and replacement

Near or past typical service life — The equipment is older than most units of its type last. Plan ahead. See replacing an old furnace.

Service records not available — No sign of recent maintenance. A tune-up after you move in is a sensible first step.

How serious is it?

• Monitor: dirty filter, older but working equipment, no service sticker.
• Fix soon: missing CO alarms, rust in the cabinet, HRV not maintained.
• Before closing: no heat, venting problems, gas smell, signs of a cracked heat exchanger.

For inspectors and agents

You're welcome to link this page for clients. Related: hiring a gas fitter in BC · furnace replacement · switching to a heat pump