Penalties for using new mini split AC before its inspected?

[DrVlikhell]

I recently installed mini splits in my home and workshop, I even went through the hassle of getting permits for them. But its taken much longer to finish everything than I expected and I've been using two of them for several months because this is south Florida and its been hot. I'm almost ready to call for an inspection but I don't want to get in trouble for using them without having the inspection done. The permit is also for a subpanel that all three feed off of. Is this something I should be concerned about or is it a non-issue? If need be, on inspection day I could put the window units back in, vacuum out the drain lines to the mini splits and play dumb. What do you all think?

 

[larry4406]

No.

Final inspection in operating condition.

 

[jjrbus]

FL. I pull permits for everything due to insurance. Put up a fence inspector drove up signed permit and left, never looked at fence. Pulled permit for shed, inspector pulled up signed permit got back in truck and left, never looked at shed. Pulled permit for new electrical service, inspector showed up waaay early, electrical was a mess, wires sticking out all over the place. Signed permit got back in truck and left. Hired roof done, inspector walked around a bit yakked with the workers, signed permit and left. I have heard there is another electrical inspector that fails everything. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

 

[428PI]

What's a permit and inspection?

 

[DrVlikhell]

I've been letting my OCD run wild on this, paying attention to even small details in hopes that the inspector will see that the work was done with care and not just slapped together, so hopefully they won't be too nitpicky. However just the other day I learned that, according to the NEC, you're supposed to leave enough wire slack in small electrical boxes so that at least 3 inches of wire can stick out. In trying to be neat and tidy, I think two of the ground wires in my AC disconnects may not meet that specification as they sit because the entry point is very close to the ground bar... however if you pull on them there is slack in the conduit so then they would meet the 3 inch requirement. One of the things I hope I don't get failed on.

Aside from not failing inspection I really don't want a fine for operating equipment that hasn't been inspected yet. However, I called and asked about needing a rough inspection and the email reply was that since all of the electrical wiring is outside and in conduit, there does not need to be a rough inspection. And I read that, after Larry4406 mentioned it, for a final inspection all electrical components need to be in operating condition, including any lighting fixtures with lightbulbs in them so they can be tested. But having a lightbulb in a fixture and able to be turned on is different than actually running a mini split AC for months. But I guess it could be argued either way. Maybe I'll set them all to 65 on the day of the inspection and tell the inspector "I turned them all on full blast so you don't have to wait for them to get cold".

Probably another two weeks before I call for inspection. I have to finish the trim on the closet I built where the old furnace used to be, which I was probably supposed to have a permit to remove.

What's a permit and inspection?

I want to live where you live. Everything here requires a permit. More than 2 sheets of drywall, permit. Any plumbing before the faucet, permit. If you touch literally anything on your roof, permit. Anything HVAC besides a window unit, permit AND energy calculations.

 

[PoorUB]

If need be, on inspection day I could put the window units back in, vacuum out the drain lines to the mini splits and play dumb. What do you all think?

The inspector will expect you to be using the equipment.

I did HVAC service and install. When the inspector showed up often the equipment had been running for weeks. If the inspection is decent, they are just looking to make sure it was installed properly.

 

[ybnormal]

I want to live where you live. Everything here requires a permit. More than 2 sheets of drywall, permit. Any plumbing before the faucet, permit. If you touch literally anything on your roof, permit. Anything HVAC besides a window unit, permit AND energy calculations.

if everything requires a permit, how do they even know if you've done work w/o a permit?

 

[DrVlikhell]

The inspector will expect you to be using the equipment.

I did HVAC service and install. When the inspector showed up often the equipment had been running for weeks. If the inspection is decent, they are just looking to make sure it was installed properly.

That's very good to know, thanks.

if everything requires a permit, how do they even know if you've done work w/o a permit?

Some areas are more strict than others about looking for new things. Down by the beach where there's greater potential for storm damage they look for literally any new wood outside, or workers on your property. If you're more inland they still have code enforcement that goes around looking for issues and they'll report anything outside that wasn't there before that would need a permit. Anything inside they can't really do anything about, but when you go to sell your house you take a chance of having a hard time selling it depending on what/how much stuff is unpermitted since you're supposed to disclose that to potential buyers. If you don't disclose, then it can come back on you if/when the buyers find out, and they can fore you to pay for permitting fees, fines and any work required to bring it up to current code. The only reason I pulled permits for this is because the house will be going on the market next year and I want to be above board with all of the AC stuff and the electrical sub panel. For everything else I'm not getting a permit for because it's all much more minor, like adding a dishwasher or putting drywall over old paneling.

 

[jjrbus]

if everything requires a permit, how do they even know if you've done work w/o a permit?

In Lee county FL they do satellite image overlays. Doubt they would find a mini but anything outside they can find easily.

 

[pcmeiners]

Actually if there is a penalty, and how much depends on how much your municipality needs money.

 

[driftpin]

Doing the work properly is more important, and be sure that the permit is still in-effect, do not allow it to expire. You can usually get an extension or renew a permit by filling out the paperwork and paying a fee. 'Filling out the paperwork' these days means, 'on-line.'

I am a retired lifesafety inspector and plans examiner who was licensed in FL.

 

[Steve W.]

Everything here requires a permit. More than 2 sheets of drywall, permit. Any plumbing before the faucet, permit. If you touch literally anything on your roof, permit. Anything HVAC besides a window unit, permit AND energy calculations.

I think that would be reason #4387 to NOT live in Flori-duh.

.

 

[mepstein]

What's a permit and inspection?

Exactly, but I’m lucky. I live in the woods and I’m very friendly with my neighbors. We all get together for parties. So no one is going to “tell” on another and it’s not really possible to see our houses from the street.

I pay my taxes, leave me alone, thank you.

 

[mikeyr]

inspectors are a different breed, I had a electrician run power to my new garage and install a 100amp sub-panel in the garage. Also had to install "the minimum" one plug and one light. He called for inspection and was failed for insufficient ground, the inspector found the shop was grounded but the house was not (built in 1951) grounded to modern specs and they required a ground rod instead of a wire at water line. Electrician called for a second inspection the next day, after having done NOTHING and this time it passed. When I asked how did it pass this time when he didn't do the required repairs, he said "my Brother was out sick yesterday and they sent a a**hole inspector, I had my Brother come out today and sign us off."

After the sign off, I had a different electrician come out and check the first guys work and put in a ground rod. I also found out that I was good since my water line is copper, but the city no longer allows ground wires to water lines since so many use PVC for water nowdays. Then I wired the rest of the shop myself.

 

[MOS3522]

Permits for small stuff is never a great plan. Run silent, run deep.

 

[Highbeam]

You've got to test the equipment. Test your work before inspection. Same with woodstoves where it's even more obvious that it was used. Plumbing, you've got to test that it leaks.

It's an inspection of installed and functional equipment.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Well, you do have to test it, don't you?

 

[reader2580]

I had my expanded solar system up and running for a good nine months before the final electrical inspection. I just made sure everything was turned off when it came time for the final inspection. There were a few minor things to finish up I couldn't easily do over the winter and I procrastinated once summer came around. I passed the final inspection and no questions about running it before final inspection.

Since I was expanding an existing system I already had the proper meter from the power company.

 

[engineer2]

I have a mystery neighbor who calls the village if they see work going on. The village's white pick trucks also cruise neighborhoods to check for weekend warriors. If it's obvious, I just get the $35 permit to avoid a hassle. The village says "any repair no matter how minor requires a permit, but we can't really control what you do to the inside of your house." Obviously if there is a dumpster in the driveway, they are going to come calling.
Someday I'm going to the building department with a single screw and ask them if I need a permit to fix a loose board on my fence.

 

[reader2580]

I had to have a permit for my solar system, or the electric utility would not have given me the bi-directional meter. I also had to have a permit when I replaced my meter base, or the utility would not reconnect power.

I get an electrical permit any time I do a major electrical project. I don’t want any questions when I sell the house eventually. I had to replace more than half of the electrical in the house when I bought it. There were multiple live lines cut off and left hanging. Also a number of loose connections that had been hot.