Replace Furnace?

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#1

Originally Posted By: Gary Nowinski
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I’m looking at purchasing a home built in 1955. From the way it looks, it still has the original furnace, which would make it about 49 years old. Should I try to get the current owner to replace this antique?

#2

Originally Posted By: tallen
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It is past it’s normal life span. What did the inspector say? Probably something like.


The furnace is past it's normal life span. Therefore, we recomend evaluation by a licensed/ qualified HVAC tech before the close of escrow.

--
I have put the past behind me,
where , however, it now sits, making rude remarks.

www.whiteglovehomeinspections.net

30 Oct 2003-- 29 Nov2005

#3

Originally Posted By: jpeck
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


tallen wrote:
It is past it's normal life span. What did the inspector say? Probably something like.

The furnace is past it's normal life span. Therefore, we recomend evaluation by a licensed/ qualified HVAC tech before the close of escrow.


Or that the furnace is 'satisfactory', because, *for its age* it was still working. (A discussion is going on about this on another board.)

Gary,

Yes, it needs to be replaced.

If the seller has only had the house a few years, he should have done that also (maybe he did, and kept the money?).

If the seller has been there a long time, well, it is time to replace it.

I would start with having it replaced (they get to choose what to replace it with), or getting a credit to replace it (so you can have the choice on what to replace it with). Go for the latter if at all possible, and get a quote from a heating and cooling contractor for replacement, do not go by any inspectors guesses (not even mine), go with the actual cost.

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida
#4

Originally Posted By: Gary Nowinski
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


tallen wrote:
It is past it's normal life span. What did the inspector say? Probably something like.

The furnace is past it's normal life span. Therefore, we recomend evaluation by a licensed/ qualified HVAC tech before the close of escrow.



Thanks for your reply. That's exactly what the inspector said, "Have the current owners pay for a licensed tech to clean and certify it." He did a CO2 check and it came out clean. He tried to check the heat exchanger but there was so much soot in it he couldn't get a good look. Thanks again for your reply.
#5

Originally Posted By: ftingle
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Gary, is this a floor furnace? If so, they don’t make them any more to my knowledge. Floor furnaces were quite common in the 50’s so thats why I asked.