When you move house, you should be getting a lot more than just a waterproof, insulated box. You’ll also be buying a whole host of appliances and systems that make that house a home, from the heating system to the oven and shower.
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It’s important that you’re fully aware of the kind of state that these various appliances are in, in particular, the more expensive and critical ones.
Here, we go through some of the most important questions to ask about the boiler of the house that you’re moving into, so that you’re not hit by any nasty surprises.
What type of boiler is it?
First things first, ask what kind of boiler is installed in the home. Most homes nowadays have combi boilers, but some larger homes might also have a system boiler.
More and more properties are moving over to air and ground source heat pump systems, thanks to their increased efficiency compared to ‘conventional’ heating systems.
If the home you’re considering moving into has one of these, make sure that it’s set up and operating properly, and that the property is adequately insulated.
When was it last serviced?
For a boiler to last its full 20-25 years, and to do so while operating as safely and efficiently as possible, it needs to be serviced at regular intervals.
In most cases, boilers should be serviced by a qualified engineer from somewhere like Able Plumbers at least once a year.
Ask the current owner or landlord when the boiler was last serviced; they should be able to provide you with documentation that covers the service history of the boiler, going back to when it was first installed.
How old is the boiler?
Even the most diligently serviced boiler won’t last much longer than 20 years. As a result, it’s important to check how old the boiler is, so that you have a rough idea of when you’ll need to replace it.
The boiler’s service documentation packet should include the installation date. Additionally, most boilers have the date of manufacture somewhere on the serial code, which should be located somewhere on the boiler itself.
Safety and features
Boilers nowadays are mostly quite safe, but this is largely thanks to the presence of a whole array of safety features, some integrated into the boiler, others external.
Ask where the stopcock is, and whether the carbon monoxide and other related alarms are all up to date.
In addition to safety features, ask about what kind of thermostat or smart home heating system is currently installed, and if there’s anything in particular you should know about how it operates.
It’s easy to get swept away with the bigger picture questions when moving into a house, but it’s often the more medium-sized issues – like boiler condition – that will have a bigger impact on your experience living in your new home. By asking some basic questions before you move in, you can make sure that you know what it is that you’re working with, and prepare for any services or upgrades ahead of time should they be necessary.
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