I have been very busy with this Chinese Drywall problem. I have been doing a lot of inspections for folks very concerned about the home they are considering buying. I am waiting for the loose ends to be tied by a colleague of mine who is putting together a affordable testing program for SW Florida home owners. Now I don’t know how much it will cost or even what affordable means. I am waiting for this gentleman to get back from a conference in Orlando with the details. I do not want any client of my jumping into expensive yet more affordable testing for what is sulphur in there home. I would much prefer that for now my present and future clients spend $99.00 with me for a visual inspection first.
Along with being a InterNachi certified home inspector  your guy on the corner is also an EPA certified type ll air conditioning technician. This means I am allowed to open up your air conditioner to check if your coil has acquired that very distinctive flat black color. I think it is a good idea to move slowly. Remember knowledge is power. It’s best to collect information and make an informed decision. I am not one to tell people what to do. I do tell people do not buy an home without a home and mold inspection. Just to recap, my home inspection also comes with a mold, air quality, air conditioning, and now a Chinese Drywall inspection. Because I am certified in all these specialties you don’t have to go anywhere else. I do everything. One stop shop. I don’t like to tell people what to do, but I would never buy a house that someone showed me copper evaporator coils and copper wiring that has turned black.
Black evaporator coil (disregard date)
I think we all know what copper looks like. Air conditioning coils have that new penny copper look. Once they start to get older there will be some corrosion and some greening of the coils. As you can see from the picture there is some copper shinning through on one of the upper loops of the tubing. The reason that this is a problem is that this corrosion causes leaks in the copper tubing and freon is escaping thus no cooling in that SW. Florida home. This is an actual evaporator coil that I came accross in a community in Estero Florida in March. If you are considering purchasing a home in SW. Florida that was built from 2004 through 2007 call me for a Chinese Drywall Inspection.
The Inspector says: “All my real estate freinds tell me and I agree, the SW. Florida real estate market is awsome.” There are plenty of homes and great prices why buy one that may have a Chinese Drywall problem.
Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI
239-243-7322
