Installation errors and short-cuts can turn a black ink project into an ocean of red ink under the scrutiny of mechanical inspectors who are paid to make sure that HVAC equipment is properly in-stalled according to code and that the safety of building occupants and contractor's employees is never compromised.

That's one of the key reasons why The NEWS recently hit the road with two mechanical inspectors to learn some of the common mistakes installers make and to get advice on how to keep the corrective action checklist to a minimum number of pages. The inspectors featured in this article are Jerry Payne, mechanical inspector for the city of Wyoming, Mich., a suburb of Grand Rapids, and Bill Paquette, a heating and refrigeration inspector for the city of Farmington Hills, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. Both men have impressive backgrounds in the mechanical trades and both hold mechanical contractor licenses.