Heating Inspection Today

JRG

Thanks in advance to everyone here, great source of information. I am having a heating system inspection today for a house that I'm thinking of buying. It's a gravity fed hot water system with a old boiler and I'm pretty new to this stuff. Are there any specific questions that I should be asking or is there any information that I should be sure to get to determine what state of the system?
JRG

Geno_15

wow

gravity went out 60yrs ago? Is the inspection by your agent, theirs or by an independant source like an oil company trying for your biz??

Unfortunately I have found that inspections that are tied to real estate agents are lame, "don't blow the sale" they recommend things or say they probably have more life in them or seem to be ok.

If it does run technically there is nothing wrong with it, other than it's outdated and should be replaced.
Please reply with what you find out or what they say, it could be interesting.

Al Letellier

heating inspection

If the system was properly installed in the first place, and the boiler is in relatively good condition, it can be a wonderfully comfrotable way to heat a house. We have many of these old systems in our customer base, and they work great. I agree with the other post about being careful who inspects the system. Not all "home inspectors"are bad. I do this work as part of my "escape plan" after 40+ years of swinging a wrench. Seek out an inspector with heating experience, or hire an independent heat contractor/consultant to inspect the system. It just might be the best overall solution for heating the house.
Rplacing the boiler would take some planning by a pro. The whole system needs to be evaluated before "scrapping the iron beast".

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Bob Harper

have the chimney inspected, too.

Most home inspectors and only some HVAC inspectors even look into a chimney. The standard for inspection of chimneys and vents for real estate resale is found in NFPA 211 and is referred to as a Level II inspection. This includes either a digital or video camera recording of the condition in the flue. They also need to evaluate the clearances to framing, flashing, exposed chimney and crown above the roof, etc. This inpsection is usually performed by a chimney sweep. I can tell you if you don't get this inspection, you are probably inheriting several thousand dollars of repairs including a stainless liner and exterior repairs. If you are contemplating changing the boiler any time soon, make this known. For instance, if you have a clunker burner now and plan on upgrading to a new boiler with a flame retention burner, that old oversized flue will not suffice for the new higher efficiency equipment even if it is in pristine condition. More likely, it isn't even lined with terra cotta tile. A Level II inspection will reveal the condition of the flue and those mortar joints, if they are even left.

I can't tell you how many homeowners got screwed because they bought a home without these inspections and they eventually spent 10-15K on a new boiler and the chimney repairs. Don't let the previous owners pass on the fruits of their neglect to you. The fact they didn't upgrade a dinosaur heating plant tells you something. What else didn't they attend to?

t. tekushan

gravity heat

I gotta say something here.

A house I virtually grew up in and now belongs to friends of an aquaintance is still running the original gravity hot water system that was installed in 1900. EVERYTHING is original, but meticulously maintained. Heating costs are not out of line for a house of this vintage and size. It is above all quiet and reliable.

There is a huge difference, in my opinion, between original, well maintained equipment and neglect. If the homeowner truly neglected things I doubt the system would still be running. Age and neglect are two different things. I would purchase a well maintained home with everything original in a heartbeat. I guess I've seen too many homes butchered with every update to come along.