19 2024
It is a common misconception to think that water heaters and water boilers are the same because both, after all, heat the water. Despite having similar functions, a boiler and a water heater heat water in different ways. Just as it’s crucial for our water heaters to be examined regularly, water boilers should also be inspected regularly by professional home inspectors in order to ensure they are working properly. This is also important if you are thinking of buying a house with a boiler because it will be a part of your home inspection list.
The water heater solely heats the water, just as the name suggests. We use water heaters for our daily jobs like showering, cooking, and cleaning. Most of the time, water heaters come in two options: conventional and tankless. Conventional water heaters have a tank that heats water at all times, while tankless ones don’t have a large tank and instead, can heat the water instantly when it’s needed. The water heater gives the warm water to the place where it's needed with the help of the pipes. However, the system of a boiler is a bit different. By comparison, hot water boilers produce steam in addition to boiling water. Heat may be transferred effectively with steam, and this can be very useful for heating a home. In contrast to a water heater, boilers function in a closed-loop system. So, when steam is produced once, it doesn’t need to keep producing steam from fresh water. Water from the boiler is used, and a combustion chamber heats this water, and steam is produced as a result. When the steam warms the house and cools down after a while, it doesn’t require much energy to start warming again because the boiler's water is already hot.
You'd be shocked at how many people move into a new property and realize they don't know where to find the boiler. If you are considering buying a house with a boiler, please ask the homeowner or the home inspector to show you where the boiler is. Because unlike water heaters, a boiler can be found anywhere in the house, and you should know the location in case you need access to it during an emergency.
Your home inspector will also inspect the boiler’s model and manufacturer because it can give a lot of hints about the boiler's age and quality. Knowing the boiler's make and model in advance is important since you may need it for an insurance company or would like to change the boiler after some time. The details will be inspected and taken into note by your home inspector.
Every boiler should have an annual inspection and service; therefore, the seller should be able to provide a copy of the boiler's comprehensive gas safety record, so you will know whether it passed all necessary safety inspections in the near past. This record will also be inspected and interpreted by your home inspector in Marietta if it’s provided.
You can avoid future home problems by having a professional property inspection. After thoroughly inspecting every room and aspect of your house, our committed home inspectors at Atlanta Property Inspection will let you know about the situation of your home or the house you’re intending to buy. To find out more about us, please get in contact with us right away.