During a recent inspection, I came across an HVAC system that was hiding some serious issues—despite looking fine at first glance. The home had a functioning A/C, everything seemed to be running smoothly, and the current homeowner had no complaints. But when I took a closer look at the outdoor condenser, I noticed something that could easily be missed by anyone not trained to look for it: every single hurricane strap had rusted completely through. The unit wasn’t attached to the pad at all.

That’s not just a small issue—it’s a serious safety concern, especially here in Florida.

Hurricane strapping is required by code for good reason. These straps are what keep your condenser locked in place during high winds. Without them, the entire unit could shift or even take off in a storm. Think about the force of hurricane winds slamming into a heavy metal box that’s just sitting loose in your yard. It’s not only dangerous—it’s a major liability, and something that insurance companies won’t overlook.

But that was just the beginning.

Once I got inside, I checked the air handler and found it was in poor condition. It was covered in dust and grime, clearly hadn’t been cleaned or serviced in quite a while, and worst of all—the heating system didn’t work at all. The home had no functional heat. Now, I know we don’t use our heaters often here on the Treasure Coast, but your HVAC system should be fully operational, both heating and cooling.

The surprising part? The cooling portion was working perfectly. Ice-cold air, no strange noises, no visible issues—on the surface, everything looked fine. That’s exactly how these problems slip by. A buyer walks through, feels the cool air, and assumes the system is in great shape.

But as I always tell people: just because something turns on doesn’t mean it’s working properly. Functionality and condition are two very different things.

We ended up recommending that the buyer bring in a licensed HVAC contractor to fully service the system. The rusted straps needed to be replaced immediately, the heat needed to be fixed, and the indoor unit needed a thorough cleaning and evaluation. You don’t want to move into a home only to find out a month later that the whole system is going to cost you thousands.

This is exactly why inspections matter. HVAC issues can be costly, and in Florida, you rely on that system more than almost anything else in your home. Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s critical to catch problems like this before they turn into bigger issues down the line.

If you’re in the market for a home—or even if you just haven’t had your systems checked in a while—it’s a good idea to have someone take a look. A trained inspector can see beyond the surface and make sure nothing important is getting missed.