Originally Posted By: Ray Yachtze This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hello - I am a would-be home-buyer looking for some general advice.
The place is a one level rancher style townhouse condo (There is a different unit below) and is approximately 18 years old.
It is heated by a very small, high efficiency gas furnace, which is located in a closet in the foyer (along with the water heater). Sorry, I didn't take note of the brand of furnace.
Of course, there is no conventional ductwork and the heat is dispensed to radiant-type heaters.
My Questions:
#1. Good system? (I can't believe the compact size of the furnace)
#2. Life expectancy of this type of furnace? Is it low maintenance?
#3. I did notice briefly a faint smell of gas when I opened the closet. Is this just normal? Or is there a gas leak?
Originally Posted By: gbeaumont This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Quote:
My Questions:
#1. Good system? (I can't believe the compact size of the furnace)
#2. Life expectancy of this type of furnace? Is it low maintenance?
#3. I did notice briefly a faint smell of gas when I opened the closet. Is this just normal? Or is there a gas leak?
1, Normally very good systems dependent on manufacturer, and with high thermal efficiency (over 95% in some cases).
2, Life expectancy would be enhanced with regular servicing, and problems tend to be on the controls side. it should be serviced every couple of years minimum, and if the unit is "pre-owned" I would be looking for the service record.
3, there should be no smell of gas what so ever, I would recommend the appliance be evaluated by a licensed heating contractor.
These types of heat sources though some what unusual here have been the norm in europe for the last 30 years and the technology is well proven, enclosed into a closet, care should be taken to ensure that the appliance has adequate combustion air, and that it is properly vented.
Originally Posted By: kmcmahon This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
also add a note to #3 that it’s installed in a small closet and may not be getting proper air flow to the units. Door should be vented to allow for proper air flow. That may be one reason for the smell of gas.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
My guess is that it’s a boiler with hot water piping to baseboard units, and not a furnace with ductwork. The general (but not so common) term for both types would be “heat plant”.
I would highly recommend having an HI take a look at the place for you, including the heat plant and other issues. It is a very small price to pay for the biggest investment of your life.
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: rrushing This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mr. Yachtze,
Welcome. The description you gave only leads to alot of more questions...
The unit you have described, indeed sounds like a boiler. My best advice would be to call your local NACHI inspector and have him come out to look at the ENTIRE town home, prior to making some huge assumptions.
No, this isn't a sales pitch... I'm in Texas and don't have a vested interest one way or the other. The way it appears... you are seeking advice for a unit (or several units-- boiler and water heater) that may have a gas leak or multiple leaks. Doesn't sound like you are too familiar with this type set-up or unit.
You take your car to a mechanic, right? Your dog to the vet, right? Have a house-doc pay you a visit and come back to this forum and share the experience with the rest of us.
Do a search on this board's find an inspector and give him/her a call. You'll find it time and money well spent.
Originally Posted By: Ray Yachtze This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for everyone’s valuable input so far, including yours Richard.
I just briefly viewed the home and made an offer conditional on inspection, which incidentally will be done tomorrow. Of course, I am going to clarify the nature of the heating system, how it works etc. and make a follow up post shortly on this thread on this specific issue.
I heartily agree with you that a HI is a wise investment. However, having said that, I will be conducting the inspection myself 
Stay tuned for an explanation as to why....I am going to share my story on the appropriate forum on this site. You'll find the story interesting, from the perspective of a guy who probably doesn't even have the rank of "Handyman" (I'll likely title the thread: "My Home Inspection Experience").
Originally Posted By: rrushing This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ray,
Might I suggest you try on something less self-destructive, first... say, go buy a new car and completely dismantle the engine and then put it back together yourself.
I respect your decision, but tend to say... Why?. Just a couple of questions...
Where are you all of a sudden going to obtain all the necessary information regarding building/ construction techniques and safety requirements?
Most of us carry (as a minimum) a couple of thousand dollars of tools and test equipment... Yikes!! How do you get around that one.
This may not seem like brain surgery... but, in the end, you may very well wish that's all it had been. I truly wish you all the good fortune with your real estate purchase and look forward to your updated post.
By the way, has anyone ever taken themselves to court????
Originally Posted By: jfarsetta This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
These are loaded questions, guys. This is someone who posts on this board regularly, I suspect. Read between the lines. What newcomer to this board typically uses an emoticon.
READ the questions and look at the comments.
Anyone care to guess who this poster really is?
-- Joe Farsetta
Illigitimi Non Carborundum
"Dont let the bastards grind you down..."
Originally Posted By: jonofrey This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ray Yachtze wrote:
I heartily agree with you that a HI is a wise investment. However, having said that, I will be conducting the inspection myself 
Stay tuned for an explanation as to why....I am going to share my story on the appropriate forum on this site. You'll find the story interesting, from the perspective of a guy who probably doesn't even have the rank of "Handyman" (I'll likely title the thread: "My Home Inspection Experience").
This should be good. An inspection cliffhanger written by a self procalimed amatuer (or is he?). Hopefully, no one gets hurt in the process.
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Do y’all really think he’s me? Y’all aren’t doing enough home inspections. I think Gerry Beaumont was the only NACHI member who tried to cause disruption at NACHI by logging on using a fake name.
Ray Yachtze is kind of a cute name, though. I should have chosen that instead of Russel Ray.
And surely y'all know that I don't visit or post outside the Members Only area unless someone sends me a PM asking for comments (thanks, Kevin, for your email to this thread--I never would have visited it without your guidance).
Originally Posted By: Ray Yachtze This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi again all. Certainly didn’t want to cause any animosity guys.
Seriously, I'm just your average Joe looking for advise from the pros. Not just from the standpoint of a pre-purchase inspection, but also have to consider learning general maintenance once I've bought. Sorry..can't help the name ma gave me. Just thankful it wasn't something like "Gaylord Focker" as in the movie "Meet the Parents"!
I'm not really a "Home Inspector" but I did stay at the....(*fingers up in the air imitating quotation marks...you know the tv ad)
Anyway...I did the "inspection" today and for those of you who guessed "Boiler"...please take a bow..you were absolutely right!
The brand name is "Super Hot" and it sure is a llittle beauty! The Owner says it is only 7 years young and it also has a shiny new red water pump. And, as an added bonus, the hot water tank is only 4 years young. To me, the pipes and installation look just fine. Please take a look at these pictures (Sorry...my wife was in charge of taking all the pictures and she's also not a professional)
Although I am not sure of the Owner's occupation, he was an older retired guy and I noticed he had quite a few tools in his storage! Got the impression he looked after the place. I decided to purchase the property.
I'm going to put together a post entitled "My Home Inspection Experience" in another forum. Did any Home Inspector actually get work in the process? The answer may surprise you.