Mechanical forensics: why did it fail?
Root cause analysis, failure investigation and second opinions on HVAC and refrigeration equipment, from techs who have taken apart more failed equipment than most people will ever see.
The short version
What is mechanical forensics?
Mechanical forensics is figuring out why a piece of equipment failed, not just replacing it. We look at the failed parts, the installation, the operating history and the conditions around it, then lay out what happened in plain language.
Why it matters
- Replacing a part without knowing why it failed often means paying twice
- Insurance claims and disputes need a clear account of cause
- Repeat failures usually point to an installation, design or operating problem
- A second opinion keeps an expensive replacement honest
Who it’s for
- Property owners and managers dealing with repeat failures
- Insurance adjusters and claims teams
- Attorneys and parties in a dispute who need a field perspective
- Owners who got a big replacement quote and want a second opinion
What you get
- Site visit, inspection and photo documentation
- Review of failed components, refrigerant circuit, electrical and controls
- Operating and maintenance history review
- A written field report: what we found, likely cause, and what to fix
- Recommendations to keep it from happening again
Straight talk: We are not engineers and we don’t stamp reports. We rely on decades of field experience in how mechanical systems are designed, installed and operated. If your situation needs a stamped engineering report, we partner with licensed engineers who review and stamp it.
What we investigate
Compressor failures
Burnouts, slugging, flooded starts, oil loss, bad charge, failed crankcase heaters and electrical causes.
Electrical damage
Burned contactors, wiring and boards after power events, loose connections, voltage problems and tapped circuits.
Water and leak damage
Condensate overflows, frozen coils, failed pumps and drain design that sends water where it shouldn’t go.
Refrigerant leaks
Where the leak is, why it started (vibration, rub-through, corrosion, bad brazing) and whether it will happen again.
Installation defects
Crossed piping or wiring, undersized lines, missing traps, bad airflow and commissioning that never got finished.
Repeat breakdowns
Equipment that keeps failing the same way, and the operating or design issue behind it.
Second opinions
Got a quote to replace a system and not sure it’s needed? We’ll look at it with fresh eyes and tell you whether repair, partial replacement or full replacement makes sense, and why. If the other contractor is right, we’ll say so.
Common questions
Are you engineers?
No. We’re licensed mechanical contractors with decades of field experience. We don’t stamp reports. If you need a stamped engineering report, we partner with licensed engineers who review and stamp it.
Can you help with an insurance claim?
Yes. We document what we find with photos and a written field report on likely cause, which adjusters and owners use alongside their own review.
Do you do HVAC root cause analysis on equipment someone else installed?
Yes. Most of our investigations are on equipment we didn’t install.
What does a failure investigation cost?
It depends on the equipment and how much digging it takes. We’ll give you a price for the investigation before we start.
Related services
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Licensed, bonded & insured · WA Contractor License OMNIMMI779PR · WA Electrical Contractor (HVAC/Refrigeration) EC OMNIMMI740OS · Commercial financing available