Occasionally, during a home inspection, the inspectors at HomePro Inspections come across something that, despite being functional, is at or near the end of its lifespan. So, precisely what does that mean? How do we explain it, and what should a homebuyer do with that information?
A furnace near the end of its lifespan
What does “end of lifespan mean”?
Our standard of practice requires us to report on things near the end of their service life. Various home inspectors may say it differently, but it means the same thing. Everything in a home has a life expectancy. Nothing lasts forever. We commonly use this phrase when it comes to appliances such as heating systems, water heaters, air conditioners, or roofing and exterior components.
I wrote a blog post in December 2023 discussing standard life expectancies. That blog shares a chart from internachi.org that shows almost every component of your home, as well as the average standard life expectancy.
Over the years, as a homeowner, I've replaced roofs that had 30-year shingles that only lasted 19 years and “new” furnaces in as little as eleven years. And then there’s the opposite: I recently purchased a property that has a furnace and air conditioner that are 25 years old. They’re well past their life expectancy, but they’re still working just fine.
About 10 to 15 years ago, I inspected a home built in 1953. It still had the original furnace. This was a pre-listing home inspection for an estate sale, and the daughter told me that her father was an engineer and took great pride in keeping that furnace running all those years. Although it was running quite well, it was probably only about 10% efficient. The daughter informed me that they planned to replace it with a new system.
How do I use this information?
If your home inspector documents that some component of your home is at the end of its lifespan, they are making that comment based on standard average life expectancies. This statement contains information that you can use when making a decision about your home. This is not an action item that necessitates replacement.
A good example would be an older water heater. I might document that it was near the end of its lifespan, but I would also explain to the client that it's not leaking, it's not rusty, it has a nice flame, and the burn chamber is not all corroded. Knowing that it is old, I would start to budget for its replacement sometime down the road.
Should you use this information in your negotiations?
It would be best if you discussed this with your real estate professional. It's probably not a good idea to ask for something to be replaced simply because it's old. If you're buying an older home, there will be a wide range of components that are at various stages of life. Your best bet is to buy a home warranty for your new home. If something breaks or fails during the policy period, it may be eligible for a complete replacement.
Summary
We want you to understand that home inspectors lack the ability to predict how long a given appliance or component may continue to perform its function. That’s why we carefully inspect your home, and if something is “at or near end of its lifespan,” we make a note so you have the information you need to make future decisions.
At HomePro Inspections, our home inspectors are trained to inspect all areas of the home. Your home inspection report documents any issues found and recommends their resolution by you or a qualified professional.
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule your home inspection in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN areas. You can contact us today at (507) 202-8942 or by email, and you can use our convenient online “Schedule Now” feature to schedule an appointment.