| Author |
Message |
    
Deb G
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 800
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 8:09 pm: |     |
We are buying a house from the early 1940s which still has (gulp) its original furnace. Inspector said it's working fine, amazingly, but suggested we get it checked out more thoroughly by a heating contractor. Can anyone recommend someone who does this work (well)? Also, chances are there's asbestos wrapping it somewhere, any idea who to talk to about this and how much it costs to get it addressed?
PS It's oil but a. soil has been tested and b. there's insurance on it. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 390
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 9:05 pm: | |
Our late 30's house still has its original furnace, but (from what little I understand) most of the important working components have been replaced with newer parts. Before we moved in our inspector told us it's still relatively efficient, and that we shouldn't rush to replace it. My major complaint about it is that it's scary looking, and that it's HUGE -- takes up a good chunk of the basement. |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 184
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 6, 2004 - 7:06 am: | |
Get a couple of estimates (check the plumbers thread for names) from a couple of folx. Almost every plumbing company has at least one negative post but Gateway does tend to get the most positive ones.
Also in terms of heating contractors to look at your furnace there's a site: www.heatinghelp.com and it has a 'find a professional' section where you put in your zip code and get back a listing of guys who know about steam.
Boilers well maintained (and it sounds like yours was) can last a VERY long time.
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
Zeno
Citizen
Username: Eratosthenes
Post Number: 50
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 6, 2004 - 8:14 am: | |
The downside of a very old furnace is that it is probably not very efficient. More modern boilers attain greater efficiency with a smaller steam chest (basically moving part of the boiler to the near-boiler piping--hence the importance of proper installation).
Second the importance of getting a plumber who knows steam heat, not just any plumber or even any good plumber. I've had otherwise reasonable plumbers tell me that pipe knocking was to be expected for steam heat systems. Also second the recommendation for Gateway, they repiped our boiler after a knucklehead screwed up the installation. |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 197
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 12:30 pm: | |
Two things you need here ....
1) Asbestos Abatement company
2) Plumber who can handle steam .... (steam? or hot air .. you say furnace ... might mean hot air ... I think boiler. (steam))
They are two things...from what I've seen posted around (the wall at 'heatinghelp.com') most plumbers won't touch asbestos or come within 2' of it (I was told that on my boiler replacement...happily the original asbestos had been encased and ended 2' away from the unions where the plumber would have to work ... so I was ok -- there was no asbestos near the plubming they 'had' to change. (not that in the end I hired a plumber).
Post on here or search the attic for asbestos abatement ... there've been a number of threads on the subject.
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
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