HVAC Inspection Service in Kirkwood and West St. Louis County

HVAC inspection is diagnostic documentation distinct from tune-up service. Where a tune-up cleans, adjusts, and replaces wear components to extend equipment life, an inspection assesses current condition without performing service work — producing a written report with measurements, photos, and component-by-component condition assessment that the customer uses for a specific purpose: real estate transaction documentation, insurance claim support, second opinion verification on another contractor’s repair recommendations, or post-event condition documentation after water damage, fire, or electrical events. The mechanical inspection scope is the same as tune-up scope (refrigerant pressures, combustion analysis, heat exchanger borescope, capacitor measurement, static pressure, ignition sequence, etc.); what differs is the deliverable: a formal written report rather than service performed. This page documents the inspection service categories we provide and the typical use cases for each.

Inspection Categories

Pre-Purchase HVAC Inspection

For buyers under contract on a Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Crestwood, Affton, Sappington, or Town and Country home considering HVAC equipment condition as a transaction factor. Standard home inspections include limited HVAC assessment (general observation, supply temperature check, basic operation verification) but typically don’t include the technical measurements that determine equipment service life expectation and immediate repair likelihood.

Pre-purchase inspection produces a written report covering:

• Equipment identification — make, model, serial number, installation date (from nameplate or service records), system configuration, equipment capacity
• Operating condition — current operation verification, measurements compared to manufacturer specifications
• Refrigerant verification (AC and heat pump) — Yellow Jacket TitanHV pressure measurement, calculated subcooling or superheat, evidence of leaks or undercharge
• Combustion analysis (gas-fired equipment) — Bacharach Fyrite Insight Plus CO air-free measurement, combustion efficiency, draft verification
• Heat exchanger inspection — Hawkeye inspection borescope assessment with photos documenting condition (cracks, carbon scoring, structural condition)
• Component condition — capacitors (microfarad measurement), contactors (visual condition), motors (amperage measurement), igniters, flame sensors
• Static pressure — Testo 510i measurement compared to equipment design
• Service history assessment — visible service stickers, dated component replacements, evidence of past repairs
• Estimated remaining service life — based on equipment age, condition, and observable wear
• Immediate repair recommendations — failures requiring near-term service to prevent further damage
• Estimated replacement timing — for equipment approaching end of service life

Photos are included with the report at representative locations and findings. Written report is delivered within 1–2 business days of inspection visit.

Pre-Sale HVAC Inspection

For sellers wanting to document HVAC equipment condition before listing, or to preemptively address potential buyer concerns. Same inspection scope as pre-purchase, with report formatted for inclusion in real estate disclosure documentation.

Common use cases:

• Homes where HVAC equipment is older and may concern potential buyers
• Recently-replaced equipment where seller wants to document the new equipment’s condition and warranty status
• Homes with known minor issues where seller wants documented assessment to set buyer expectations

Insurance Claim Inspection

After water damage, fire, lightning, electrical events, or other incidents affecting HVAC equipment, insurance carriers typically require documentation of damage scope, salvageability, and replacement justification.

Insurance inspection scope covers:

• Damage documentation — photos and written description of visible damage to equipment, ductwork, refrigerant lines, and electrical connections
• Functionality testing — where safe, equipment operation verification with damage-related performance issues documented
• Refrigerant assessment — refrigerant retention verification, leak testing if equipment damage is suspected
• Component-level assessment — individual component condition for partial-replacement scenarios
• Salvageability determination — assessment of whether equipment can be restored to safe operation or requires replacement
• Replacement quote support — itemized replacement quote in format compatible with insurance claim documentation
• Cause-of-failure determination — where possible from observable evidence, whether damage is consistent with the claimed incident

Second Opinion Inspection

For homeowners who’ve received repair or replacement recommendations from another contractor and want independent verification before authorizing significant work. Common scenarios:

• Heat exchanger replacement recommendation — we verify the crack independently with Hawkeye borescope and photo documentation
• Compressor replacement quote — we verify compressor failure with electrical and mechanical testing
• Whole-system replacement recommendation — we assess whether replacement is justified or whether targeted repair would address the issue
• Refrigerant leak repair quote — we verify leak location and severity with electronic leak detection
• Combustion safety shutdown — we verify CO production with independent combustion analysis

Second opinion inspection is independent assessment, not advocacy. We document what we measure and assess; the customer decides whether the original contractor’s recommendation is justified. We’re transparent when we agree with the original recommendation and when we disagree.

Post-Event Documentation Inspection

After specific events that may have affected equipment without obvious damage:

• Lightning strikes — electrical surge damage to control boards, capacitors, motors
• Power outage with surge — same scope as lightning, often less severe
• Mid-cycle power loss — equipment stopped abruptly during operation may have refrigerant migration or other issues
• Major weather events — hail damage to condenser coils, ice damage, flooding affecting outdoor units
• Construction or remodeling proximity — impact, vibration, dust loading from adjacent work

What Inspection Doesn’t Include

Inspection is documentation-only. The following are not included unless customer authorizes separate service:

• Component cleaning (coil cleaning, drain pan cleaning, etc.)
• Filter replacement
• Refrigerant addition or recovery
• Repair work of any kind
• Adjustments or recalibration

If inspection findings indicate need for service, we provide written quote for the additional work and customer chooses whether to authorize and schedule separately. Some customers schedule inspection and tune-up as separate-day services; others combine into a single visit with inspection performed first, then tune-up after report findings are reviewed.

Pricing

• Pre-purchase or pre-sale HVAC inspection (1 system): $189–$240 all-in including written report with photos delivered within 1–2 business days.
• Multi-system home inspection: $280–$420 for 2-system home, $380–$540 for 3+ systems.
• Insurance claim inspection: $240–$540 depending on scope, damage extent, and report complexity. Report format compatible with most carrier claim requirements.
• Second opinion inspection: $189–$280 for component-specific verification (single recommendation review); $280–$420 for whole-system replacement justification review.
• Post-event documentation inspection: $240–$420 depending on event scope and equipment count.
• Rush turnaround (same-day or next-day report delivery): $80–$140 additional.

All pricing includes inspection visit, measurements, photos, written report delivery (PDF format via email plus optional printed copy), and Purisync follow-up consultation to discuss findings if requested.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does HVAC inspection cost in Kirkwood?

Pre-purchase or pre-sale HVAC inspection on a single-system home runs $189-$240 all-in including written report with photos delivered within 1-2 business days. Multi-system homes run $280-$420 for 2 systems, $380-$540 for 3+ systems. Insurance claim inspections run $240-$540 depending on scope and report complexity. Second opinion inspections run $189-$280 for component-specific verification, $280-$420 for whole-system replacement justification review. Post-event documentation inspections run $240-$420 depending on event scope. Rush turnaround for same-day or next-day report delivery adds $80-$140. All pricing includes inspection visit, instrument measurements, photos, written PDF report delivery, and Purisync follow-up consultation to discuss findings if requested.

What’s the difference between an HVAC inspection and a tune-up?

Inspection is documentation; tune-up is service work. Inspection assesses current equipment condition through measurements and photos, producing a written report with component-by-component assessment, but doesn’t perform any cleaning, adjustment, or repair work. Tune-up performs preventive maintenance: coil cleaning, capacitor measurement, refrigerant verification, heat exchanger inspection, condensate drain service, filter replacement, ignition sequence verification, and minor adjustments to extend equipment life. The mechanical inspection scope is similar; what differs is the deliverable. Customers occasionally schedule both: inspection first to document baseline condition, then tune-up to address findings — appropriate for pre-purchase scenarios where the customer wants documented condition before deciding to authorize service work.

I’m buying a home in Kirkwood. Do I need an HVAC inspection?

The standard home inspection most buyers commission as part of the purchase process includes limited HVAC assessment but typically not the technical measurements that determine equipment service life and immediate repair likelihood. Whether to commission a separate HVAC inspection depends on several factors: the seller’s disclosure about equipment age (older equipment warrants closer assessment), the presence of unusual conditions noted by the home inspector (combustion safety concerns, evidence of moisture damage near equipment, AC supply temperature complaints), and the cost difference between equipment that might need imminent service ($1,000-$3,000 typical major service) and equipment requiring imminent replacement ($6,000-$15,000+ for AC + furnace replacement). For homes with HVAC equipment over 12 years old, separate HVAC inspection at $189-$240 typically pays back several times over by clarifying replacement timing for negotiation or budgeting purposes.

Can you do an inspection if I’ve gotten a quote from another contractor?

Yes, that’s exactly what our second-opinion inspection service exists for. Common scenarios: heat exchanger replacement recommendation (we verify the crack independently with Hawkeye borescope and photo documentation); compressor replacement quote (we verify compressor failure with electrical and mechanical testing); whole-system replacement recommendation (we assess whether replacement is justified or whether targeted repair would address the issue); refrigerant leak repair quote (we verify leak location and severity); combustion safety shutdown (we verify CO production with independent combustion analysis). Second opinion inspection is independent assessment, not advocacy — we document what we measure and assess; you decide whether the original recommendation is justified. We’re transparent when we agree with the original contractor and when we disagree. Pricing: $189-$280 for component-specific verification, $280-$420 for whole-system replacement justification review.

What format is the inspection report?

Written PDF report with photos, equipment details, measurement readings, component-by-component condition assessment, identified concerns, and recommendations. Format is standardized across our inspection categories: pre-purchase, pre-sale, insurance, and second-opinion reports use the same baseline structure with sections specific to the use case. Reports include equipment make/model/serial/age, current operating measurements (refrigerant pressures, combustion analysis, capacitor microfarads, static pressure, supply/return temperature differential), photographic documentation at representative locations and any findings, written assessment of remaining service life, immediate repair recommendations if any, estimated replacement timing for equipment approaching end of life, and (for insurance claims) damage scope, salvageability determination, and itemized replacement quote in claim-compatible format. Delivered via email within 1-2 business days standard, same-day or next-day available with rush turnaround upcharge.

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Contact Purisync Heating and Air

For pre-purchase HVAC inspection, insurance claim documentation, second opinion verification, or post-event assessment, contact our 325 N Kirkwood Road office at (314) 338-5111. Real estate transaction inspections frequently have time pressure — we can typically schedule within 3–5 business days with rush turnaround available when needed.

• Emergency Line (24/7): (314) 338-5111
• Address: 325 N Kirkwood Rd #245, Kirkwood, MO 63122
• Email: info@purisyncheatingairconditioning.xyz
• St. Louis County Mechanical Contractor License: #MC-2014-08439-STL
• Kirkwood Business Registration: #BL-2014-1187
• EPA Section 608 Universal: #608U-2014-385721

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Office Hours

• Emergency Service: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Office Staff: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed: Sundays and State/Federal Holidays (emergency line always active)