Buying an older property with underfloor heating

Rainyday

I've just made an offer to buy a house built by the current owner 20 years ago.

It's on a slope and has underfloor heating.

Given it's on a slope and the heating was installed over 20 years ago, I'd like to get this checked and I'm not sure who or what sort of survey I would need.

Could I get a structural engineer to check this instead of a regular surveyor?

Any and all tips appreciated

G_M

Maybe (well, OK - definately!) I don't know much about underfloor heating. But what is the relevance of the slope?

Surely a standard water-circulation heating system would be more affected by a slope..........?

as to how to check it; do you think the seller will allow your surveyor / engineer / heating expert to rip up the floor?

Davesnave

The significance of underfloor heating in combination with a sloping plot has me puzzled as well.

There are different types of underfloor heating, so is it a wet or dry system and how might it be affected? Surely, houses built on slopes normally have level floors? Even wet systems cope with moving water between several floors in larger houses.

Maybe you are thinking of subsidence, in which case the effects on the heating system might be somewhat less important than other physical manifestations of slippage downhill. We rented one like that a few years ago. Had we decided to buy it, a structural engineer rather than a surveyor would have been my choice to advise on the problem and the likely remedial measures required.

knightstyle

Well if it is a wet system I would have it pressure tested and look to changing the controls for a modern one. If it fails the pressure test it is not too expensive to put in a new radiator system.
If it is electric get it tested for insulation breaking down and to make sure all the elements work, no breaks.
Finally these systems are usually long lasting and easy to live with, as they are slow to respond to changes in weather conditions it is best to use as background heating for the whole house with additional heating in the living room.

Rainyday

Sorry - the original post was really 2 questions.

I'm concerned about

1) house built on slope (noticed some cracks along wall in garage)
2) the underfloor heating system (which is a wet one)

So I'd rather spend the money upfront and get these checked.

But my understanding is a regular homebuyer survey might not be sufficient so I wanted advice on whether rather than a surveyor, what I might need is a structural engineer & a heating engineer?

G_M

Yes. And yes.

Or maybe all 3.

knightstyle

OK so it is a wet system, probably copper and the pipes need pressure testing to show any leaks, up to you and the seller to talk about this or wait till you own it. If you go ahead and buy the fact the house is built on a slope is no problem provided the foundations and flooring have been built well. Look at neighbours houses for cracks, talk to neighbours.
I would flush the system and fit new controls plus look at the insulation in the house.
You may be eligible for help with a new boiler, if it is the original then it needs replacing for a more efficient one.

Davesnave

Rainyday wrote: »

I'm concerned about

1) house built on slope (noticed some cracks along wall in garage)

The garage, especially if its's detached, is likely not to have foundations as substantial as those of the house. Any cracking might therefore be indicative of a weakness in that building alone.

However, as there has been some movement at some time, (it might be historic rather than ongoing) I'd consider a structural engineer's report a sensible move.

Rainyday

Thank you for replies - garage is under the living room so part of integral structure of the house.