When you replace your HVAC system, your local city or county will conduct a mechanical inspection to confirm proper installation. Many homeowners assume this means the inspector will test how well the new system heats or cools — however, that’s not actually the case.
Instead, the inspection focuses on safety and code compliance, not comfort or performance. Understanding what inspectors do (and don’t) check will help you clearly know what to expect after your HVAC replacement.
1. The Purpose of the Inspection
After an HVAC replacement, inspectors confirm that the installation follows North Carolina mechanical and building codes. Their goal is to ensure the system was installed safely and correctly — not to evaluate how efficiently or comfortably it runs.
In other words, inspectors focus on what can be seen, measured, and verified according to code rather than how the system feels once it’s operating. This distinction is important because many homeowners confuse inspections with system testing.
2. What Inspectors Typically Check
A post-replacement HVAC inspection in North Carolina generally includes the following steps:
- Proper Permitting – Inspectors confirm that the correct mechanical permit exists for your replacement. Without it, the system cannot legally pass inspection.
- Equipment Match and Labeling – They verify that indoor and outdoor units match correctly and meet both manufacturer and energy code standards.
- Refrigerant Line Installation – Inspectors review line sizing, insulation, and brazing quality to ensure long-term reliability.
- Electrical Connections – They check breaker sizing, disconnect placement, wiring, and grounding for safety.
- Drainage and Condensate Lines – Drain lines must slope correctly, include traps, and terminate with proper overflow protection to prevent water damage.
- Ductwork and Sealing – Inspectors look for tight connections and visible sealing. In fact, some municipalities also require a duct leakage test to confirm compliance with current energy codes.
- Ventilation and Combustion Air – For gas systems, inspectors confirm safe venting and proper combustion air supply to avoid safety hazards.
- Safety and Accessibility – Finally, they check clearances, working platforms, service access, and labeling to ensure safe maintenance access.
Overall, these checks guarantee that your new system meets both local and state standards.
3. What Inspectors Don’t Check
It’s equally important to understand what inspectors don’t evaluate. Mechanical inspectors focus solely on code compliance — therefore, they don’t test or measure performance. They won’t:
- Check refrigerant charge or airflow
- Measure temperature differences or efficiency
- Verify thermostat calibration
- Evaluate comfort or airflow distribution
These performance-related steps are handled exclusively by your HVAC contractor during setup and testing. So, if you ever notice issues with comfort or airflow, your contractor will be the one to adjust and resolve them.
4. How Klimatology HVAC Handles the Inspection Process
At Klimatology HVAC, we manage the entire inspection process for you from start to finish. Once your installation is complete, our team promptly contacts your local municipality to schedule the inspection according to that city or county’s specific procedures.
Each municipality in the Triangle area — including Wake, Durham, and Orange counties — operates a bit differently. For instance, most do not provide exact arrival times. We can request an AM or PM window; however, the final schedule depends entirely on the municipality.
Additionally, inspectors usually don’t call ahead or offer real-time updates. After the inspection is finished, the municipality simply reports whether it passed or failed, and our team follows up with you immediately afterward.
5. Setting Expectations After Your HVAC Replacement
When your inspection is officially scheduled, the inspector will visit your home on the confirmed date. Occasionally, inspections are rolled to the next business day due to workload or weather. Therefore, we recommend calling your local inspections office the morning of your scheduled day to confirm your inspection status.
Typically, the visit itself is short. The inspector’s responsibility is to confirm that your HVAC system meets safety and building code standards, not to test its performance or comfort level.
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns about how your new system is running, Klimatology HVAC is always available to help. We make sure everything performs exactly as it should once your inspection is complete — giving you total confidence in your new system. Contact us to schedule service.
