Jerry

I cannot believe you said this statement below

"Regardless of what is stated as 'required' in the SOP, if 50% or more of the home inspectors in that area open those covers, that is the 'standard' to be used in that area, 'required' by the SOP or not."

If it is in the standards or not???? What are you suppose to do. Call 50 inspectors in your area and find out if 50% of them do a particular dead at an inspection.

As far as Davids point about opening the condenser cabinet, well half of them are sealed, on top of the system and cannot be gotten into. As far as looking at the blower motor in newer units you can get to them most of the time. Many HVAC have been leaking or sucking air severally in the past and HVAC techs have come in and taped and mastic-ed the units up. To open them and break that seal that the seller paid to have done, well, I don't do it. As far as not being able to access a unit properly I will always write it up to be serviced and cleaned for that fact.

Quick edit here

As far as testing the motor for current draw or anything besides apparent operation, vibration etc. I do not believe that is going to happen with almost any inspector.

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Ted Menelly
"Castle"
Home Inspection Services