Free checklist
HVAC inspection checklist
Most HVAC callbacks trace to three things: condensate, duct sealing and a startup nobody documented. This checklist splits the walk into rough-in and startup so the concealed work is photographed before the ceiling closes and the numbers are recorded while the unit is running.
- Items
- 14
- Photos required
- 24
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
Mechanical foreman at rough-in; startup technician at commissioning; GC verifies both.
When in the schedule
Rough-in items before ceiling close-in and insulation. Startup items after permanent power, with filters installed and the building reasonably clean.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as-is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Equipment set
- 2 photos
Unit level, supported and clearances maintained
Manufacturer service clearances open on every required side; vibration isolation where specified.
- 1 photo
Disconnect installed, labelled and accessible
Within sight of the unit, correctly labelled, not blocked by ductwork.
- 2 photos
Refrigerant lines supported, insulated and sealed at the wall
Continuous insulation with no gaps at hangers; penetration sealed weather-tight.
Ductwork
- 3 photos
All joints and seams sealed before insulation
Mastic or approved tape at every transverse and longitudinal joint — photographed uncovered.
- 2 photos
Duct supported at required intervals with no crushed flex
Straps at the correct spacing and width, flex pulled tight, no sharp radius or compressed runs.
- 2 photos
Fire and smoke dampers installed with access
Damper in the rated assembly, access door sized and reachable, sleeve and retaining angles correct.
- 1 photo
Openings covered until the system is cleaned
Duct ends capped during construction so drywall dust does not end up in the coil.
Condensate
- 2 photos
Trap built to the required depth and primed
Trap matched to unit static, cleanout accessible, and a shot showing depth before it's concealed.
- 2 photos
Drain line sloped continuously to termination
No flat runs, no sag between supports, terminating where discharge is legal and visible.
- 1 photo
Secondary protection installed and tested
Secondary pan or wet switch present; test the switch and confirm the unit shuts down.
Controls and startup
- 1 photo
Thermostat and sensors located per plan
Not on an exterior wall, not in a supply stream, not behind a door swing.
- 1 photo
Filters installed, correct size and direction
Airflow arrow correct, no gaps at the rack, construction filters replaced before turnover.
- 2 photos
Startup readings recorded
Supply and return temperatures, static pressure, amp draw and refrigerant pressures — record the numbers, not a checkmark.
- 2 photos
Airflow verified at terminals and balanced
Every diffuser delivering; balancing report matched against the design values.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Duct seal photographed after insulation, so the seal itself is invisible.
- Condensate trap depth not recorded, then the unit shuts down on a wet switch in week one.
- Startup readings written on a paper sheet that never makes it into the turnover package.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 24 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Related checklists
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