ComplaintsforOcean Breezes Home Inspections, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I had John H*** of Ocean Breezes Home Inspections inspect my condo on 12/16/2021. I had closing on my condo on 1/20/2022. Beach Air did the HVAC tune up on 1/26/2022. The service tech told me that the 5kw Heat Kit is not working and the heat coils were broken when he checked continuity. I told the tech that I wanted to wait because I thought that I might replace the unit in the summer. That night was the first night that I spent in the condo and it was freezing. I couldn't stay in my condo without heat. I had to spend the money for the heat hit. I ordered the p*** the next day and it was put in on 1/28/22. I feel that when Mr H*** inspected my condo, which was around $475. that he should have seen that the Heat Kit was not working and the heat coils were broken. The purpose of the inspection is to test the major systems of the condo are working. My inspection was inadequate. I did call Mr H*** to avoid the complaint but he just said that he was sorry. I would Mr H*** to refund the $322., the cost of the service call and heat kit. I trusted him to check my condo for anything that the former owner should fix before I buy the condo.

  Business response

  07/10/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/20) */ I inspected a condo for Mrs. ******* Dec.16, 2021 for $299. The first I've heard of any issue was on March 16, 2022. This is 90 days after the inspection. I had found 8 different items wrong with this unit during the inspection. One of which was the fact that the Heat Pump (both half's _compressor unit/condensing unit and heatpump) were well past the manufacturers life expectancy of 12 years. The unit uses an R-22 refrigerant which is not longer made and would need to be replaced rather than attempting repairs next time anything went wrong. At the time of inspection it was functioning acceptably visually- which is what the SOP's of home inspection are- visual. Weare not dismantling or running pressure test on systems. It was 55degree's outside that day and the system was set at 60, which is what the interior temperature was. I raised it slightly and it did respond. As I told her at the time units in this age could last 3 days or 3 years, but when something goes wrong based on the refrigerant not being available any longer it would need to be replaced. We are sorry that a switch/regulator failed , but it was most definately not coils as they would cost several thousand to repair on a unit which could be repaired (which this one could not as before mentioned). Based on the fact that we let her know the facts of the units age/condition at the time of inspection, that a home inspection is visual ,and the fact that it's been 3 months since we have heard anything, and were never given the chance to look at what issue the tech company say's was wrong we feel we represented the client fully. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/03/22) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Mr H*** is correct. I spent $299. and another $185. He H*** mentioned twice that it had been 90 days. Even though the inspection was 12/16/21, I closed a month later on Jan 20. So let's say 60 days. I needed to move in and get settled, which took many weeks since I live by myself. Mr H*** said that he turned the temp slightly. Had he turned the temp higher, he would have realized that the supplemental heating coil was not working. My dispute is not with the heat pump. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/03/29) */ The client is correct about the additional $185. But, it was for me to return and look specifically at the defects that were found in the initial inspection. They had requested items to be repaired, and most were not . That trip was only to look at those specific items, which i had suggested that if a licensed technician did the repairs that were warrantied there would be no need for me to look at them. They did not. My issue with 90 days is that was the first time I had been notified something was wrong- after this complaint was filed. That was when she called saying she had filed a complaint. It would have been nice had she called when she noticed an issue, and I could have come out to find the problem. At this point I have no idea what the true issue was, which could have been as simple as a relay switch sticking. Point here is I was given no opportunity to see there was a problem. The system was indeed functioning correctly at the time of the inspection in Dec. And as I've mentioned this is a system that is equipped with R-22 freon, which is no longer legal to be used in this country, and therefore would not be able to be repaired when something stopped functioning. We are only in a condo for a short period and thus checking temperature rise is not realistic with doors and windows being opened and shut constantly as we are checking function of everything. We always adjust the temp setting to force the unit to come on so we can make sure ducts are not leaking and properly taped. Again, a home inspection is a visual snapshot in time of the conditions of all systems on that day. We cannot dismantle systems, or give exact (how much life is left) quotes. We have no way of knowing when an electronic/mechanical component will fail. This is why I commented that the unit was past it's manufacturers life expectancy of 12 years and considering the aforementioned R-22 system, would need replacement the next time anything would be to go wrong. When I buy a used car and have it checked out I understand that some components are old. And when the mechanic tells me that specific p***s are past the time and will have to be replaced i have to understand that. I do not get upset when one of those p***s does fail, as I was told it eventually would. Iam sorry that it did fail, but there is no way to know when an old system past its life expectancy will fail. Consumer Response /* (4200, 11, 2022/03/30) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) As I have said before, I closed on 1/20, I had scheduled an air condition company to come on 1/24. He told me the Heat Kit was not working and the coils were broken. The Tech came back and fixed it on 1/25. There would be no reason to call Mr H***. It was not a relay switch sticking. I am not responding again to Mr H***. This is clearly a waste of time for myself and the Better Business Bureau. I want to thank the Better Business Bureau for the opportunity to submit a complaint.

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