Been a bit over a month since I moved into this house, and thought I'd ask a few questions that I've been wondering about.
First of all, I had worried initially there might be knob and tube considering the age of the house. There is one little bit of it in the basement, but the landlord assures me it is dead. He reached up and grabbed the wires at one point to prove it as well.
Almost all of the wiring appears to have been updated at some point, ~85% of it is older BX Armored Steel conduit. Our circuit breaker is newer, no idea when it was put in, but they used romex for the new kitchen, as best I can tell the outlet where the washer and dryer is, and a couple of others.
I was concered about asbestos, and my concerns would seem to be validated by the method of encapsulation used.
(yes this is the dryer vent hose, that is now vented properly outside)
Someone came along and wrapped all the asbestos insulation with duct tape in most places, a few places they just stapled a tarp up over it. I know this isn't exactly the proper method, but noone is going to be down there to screw with it, so I'm not too concerned.
Next up, our boiler.
It's definitely an older model, but I'm not able to find much information out about this company. Republic Boiler appears to be the manufacturer, but I can't find any information on year.
Apparently it went out 7 years ago and had to be repaired, so has newer gas stuff inside. It works quite well, it can't quite keep up with a drafty old house when it was like last night (-10f, and 40mph winds) but it keeps the house warm, it has a reassuring rumble when it's running.
One thing that does slightly concern me is this
I asked someone I know who does boilers, who says that is definitely the old style, and as long as there is a proper draft when running, shouldn't pose a problem. Now, we do have a CO detector at the bottom of the basement steps and it has never gone off, so we aren't too worried, but I thought it was strange. Note, it's also plumbed into the old chimney. When the boiler was put in they bricked up the fireplace and sealed/lined the inside of the existing chimney. We do have CO detectors in every bedroom too, just in case. They did the same thing in the back corner with the hot water heater, with the other chimney.
That chimney though, also is connected to something quite cool
1920 or earlier, as best I can tell.
The support beams and joists are in great shape, and as you'd expect from a house of this vintage, are great big things, not the wimpy joists you see in newer homes.
Gas and electric meters are new
There is also this, which I can't come up with any explanation for except maybe a heater or oven?
First of all, I had worried initially there might be knob and tube considering the age of the house. There is one little bit of it in the basement, but the landlord assures me it is dead. He reached up and grabbed the wires at one point to prove it as well.
Almost all of the wiring appears to have been updated at some point, ~85% of it is older BX Armored Steel conduit. Our circuit breaker is newer, no idea when it was put in, but they used romex for the new kitchen, as best I can tell the outlet where the washer and dryer is, and a couple of others.
I was concered about asbestos, and my concerns would seem to be validated by the method of encapsulation used.
(yes this is the dryer vent hose, that is now vented properly outside)
Someone came along and wrapped all the asbestos insulation with duct tape in most places, a few places they just stapled a tarp up over it. I know this isn't exactly the proper method, but noone is going to be down there to screw with it, so I'm not too concerned.
Next up, our boiler.
It's definitely an older model, but I'm not able to find much information out about this company. Republic Boiler appears to be the manufacturer, but I can't find any information on year.
Apparently it went out 7 years ago and had to be repaired, so has newer gas stuff inside. It works quite well, it can't quite keep up with a drafty old house when it was like last night (-10f, and 40mph winds) but it keeps the house warm, it has a reassuring rumble when it's running.
One thing that does slightly concern me is this
I asked someone I know who does boilers, who says that is definitely the old style, and as long as there is a proper draft when running, shouldn't pose a problem. Now, we do have a CO detector at the bottom of the basement steps and it has never gone off, so we aren't too worried, but I thought it was strange. Note, it's also plumbed into the old chimney. When the boiler was put in they bricked up the fireplace and sealed/lined the inside of the existing chimney. We do have CO detectors in every bedroom too, just in case. They did the same thing in the back corner with the hot water heater, with the other chimney.
That chimney though, also is connected to something quite cool
1920 or earlier, as best I can tell.
The support beams and joists are in great shape, and as you'd expect from a house of this vintage, are great big things, not the wimpy joists you see in newer homes.
Gas and electric meters are new
There is also this, which I can't come up with any explanation for except maybe a heater or oven?