Mention Component Age?

[Vince Santos]

Do you mention furnace, water heater and condensing unit age in your report?

If you do what's is your recommendation to your client when the unit/s are at or beyond the manufacturers expected life?

*EDIT*

If you don't, why not?

[Greg Bell]

That the unit is at or near the end of its designed life. You can expect a higher level of maintenance and a higher cost to operate. Budget to replace the unit before it fails. I cannot determine how long the unit will last.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

If it is past it;s designed life i state the design life and i that have no way of telling how many years it will last. Service by a qualified tech is recommended. Most likely there has been lack of service.

[mnahrgang]

Yes, and I have "average" life expectancy of the appliance. I don't state, nearing or beyond it's life expectancy. I list the age with the make, serial, and model, then have a standard sentence that tells the average.

[James H. Bushart]

The item is at the age where it is near the end or past its useful life. Be prepared to replace it in the near future.

[George A. H. Luck]

" The ( unit ) is operating at or beyond it's design life and may require replacement in the near future. Further operation of this ( unit ) may incur additional expense due to increased maintenance costs."

[Vince Santos]

We have three so far that don't mention component age. Please explain your reasons if you don't mention age.

[ldapkus]

Originally Posted by vsantos

We have three so far that don't mention component age. Please explain your reasons if you don't mention age.

They write softer reports to avoid scaring their realtor referrals. That's the bottom line. Sad but true, but they won't admit it.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by vsantos

We have three so far that don't mention component age. Please explain your reasons if you don't mention age.

Component age is not always available and when it is, it is the manufacturing date...not the installation date....that you are reading.

Secondly, the age of a system is irrelevant to its condition, unless the age is at or near the end of its expected life.

Last summer, I saw a water heater that looked in pristine condition...it could have been installed a week ago....that was manufactured in 1970. What is there to report, regarding its age, other than the fact that it is past the age of its normal useful life and they should prepare to replace it?

About 15% of my inspections come from real estate salesmen, so there is no "soft report" motivation behind any of my wording.

[Vince Santos]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Component age is not always available and when it is, it is the manufacturing date...not the installation date....that you are reading.

Secondly, the age of a system is irrelevant to its condition, unless the age is at or near the end of its expected life.

Last summer, I saw a water heater that looked in pristine condition...it could have been installed a week ago....that was manufactured in 1970. What is there to report, regarding its age, other than the fact that it is past the age of its normal useful life and they should prepare to replace it?

About 15% of my inspections come from real estate salesmen, so there is no "soft report" motivation behind any of my wording.

Would you agree the situation with the water heater is far from the norm?
Obviously the component should be reported on based on condition.

[Ron Chorey II]

I pput in my report the age (if can be determined) , model # and serial #.

If it is beyond the systems expected life I recommend an evaluation of the system for life expectancy. If it is a gas furnace or AC unit, I recommend asking sellers when the last time the unit was serviced and recommend they be serviced annually for a gas furnace and every 2 years for an AC unit.

[David P. Valley]

The heating system was paced through it’s normal sequence of operating modes, with no obvious defects noted at time of inspection. However, due to systems age, it is clearly beyond it’s life expectancy, and replacement should be considered soon.

[Nick Gromicko]

Reporting life expectancy aside... if you know something to be true and possibly useful to your client, why hide that information?

If you come upon information that reveals the exact age of a particular component (new or old), tell your client.

Would I spend extra energy and time trying to determine the exact age of everything? No. But we are in the information business and I see no reason to withhold any information that may be of use to the client.

Your poll says "mention..." This assumes that you already know. So I say tell your client.

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

I also report that information, if I can discern it.
In addition, I'm starting to mail this along with the
"Now That You've Had A Home Inspection" booklet,
once I'm sure they've closed and moved in...

[Aubrey J. Kahn]

If I can determine the age of the component (and it is possible most of the time) I note it on the report. I also tell the client it has passed its supposed life span and might need to be replaced in the near future. Your client should have as much information as you can provide. If you were the client wouldn't you want to know too.