Home Inspection - All About Boilers

Are you getting ready to order a home inspection for your older home? If so, perhaps the older home has an old boiler. Many homeowners wonder if an old boiler will be a cause for concern during a home inspection.

A boiler is really just an older form of a central heating system. When a home inspector is conducting an inspection, it is common for the boiler to be part of that inspection. How does a boiler work? A boiler works by heating water. The heat from this process is then distributed to the various living areas of the home. These days, believe it or not, boilers are still being manufactured. Boilers can be made to work with a variety of sources, including gas, coal fuels, oil, or sometimes, electricity. If maintained properly, boilers can actually be quite reliable systems.

As for old boilers, most were typically manufactured from cast iron. Many have been converted from coal-fired systems. One of the best things about cast iron boilers is that they can last for a long time. Of course, this is provided that they receive regular maintenance. When inspecting old boilers, a professional inspector will make the following inspections and assessments:

• They should give the boiler a visual examination and check for failures and installation standards,
• They should verify that the boilers operate with the provided controls, and
• They should verify that the boiler is indeed bringing heat to each room of the house.

Ideally, your boiler system will have a service contract and some records. A service contract allows the contractor access to detailed records of previous repairs and components that have been replaced or updated.

With these records, a contractor will be able to provide a good estimate of life expectancy. However, if you want greater assurance than what can be provided from old records, or no records are available, you can always arrange for the home inspector to do a more detailed and thorough inspection of the boiler system. Some of the additional evaluations that you can have the inspector do may include:

• A full examination of the combustion chamber,
• A check of system pressure,
• A check of carbon monoxide and combustible gases,
• An examination to determine if the boiler contains any asbestos,
• Verifying the existence of safety controls and their working condition,
• Providing a rough estimate of service life.

Ultimately, the physical age of the boiler should not be your final concern, because many very old boilers have been known to function optimally if they receive a regular schedule of maintenance and updates. However, you do want to become informed regarding past wear and tear because that could have a strong effect on the future life of the boiler.

Other issues you may want to be concerned with when inspecting older homes is the condition of the floors. While many people see sagging floors as a natural characteristic of an older home, they can potentially spell trouble.

One of the biggest concerns with older homes is that contractors tend to want to replace almost everything. Very often, homeowners may be talked into extensive renovations. But are these really necessary?

If you believe that your contractor may be over-prescribing renovations, you may want to get an independent inspector to take another look. If possible, get a home inspector that does not do repairs or contracting, or who is not affiliated with a repair company.

In most cases, sagging floors are not an immediate concern. However, if they are caused by wood rot or insect damage, then it could be an immediate concern. Make certain that the home inspector is familiar with these tests.

Another common symptom of older homes is cracks. Most of the time, these do not require too much attention, especially if the cracks appear to be superficial or cosmetic in nature.

Your home inspector may say something about examining the foundation or the floors. Many times you may hear concerns regarding cracks that run in the direction of the grain. These cracks tend to form when the wood is drying out, however they usually do not affect the structure of the floor. However, if you are concerned about wood floors, you may want to consult a professional carpenter who has experience working with old timber.