Newly Bought Property Has Faulty Heating System

[John Zilverberg]

Moderator: Please move this if it is in the wrong place.

Hi All,

Looking for some advice. I recently closed on my first property (built in 1905) that has an old gravity boiler that feeds radiators throughout the duplex. I paid top dollar for a home inspection to check all the systems since it was my first property, and I don't know what I don't know.

Home inspection appeared fine, he said the boiler was working, and I assumed he checked all the radiators. Turns out, he only checked that there was a flame in the boiler, and used a temp gun on one radiator, without checking the remainder. Come to find out that only 2 of my 18 radiators work. Brought in a boiler service company, they spent 2 days troubleshooting the system and were able to get all but 2 to work, so now 16 out of 18.

They have been doing this for 25 years and have no idea what is wrong with the remaining two, and I am considering replacing them with electric baseboard instead of continuing to throw money at this.

My bill so far is $2800, and by the time it is all said and done I imagine it will be almost $4000.

Do I have any remediation possible? Do the sellers assume any responsibility, as the boiler service people said it doesn't appear these radiators have functioned for a long time? I would imagine past renters would have commented on these problems. I am talking with the home inspection company to see if I can get my fee back, but that won't come close to covering the repairs. Any advice would be welcomed!!