Just before closing on a manufactured home advertised as "move in ready," a first-time buyer says a 26-year-old furnace was flagged for shutting down and entering safety lockout during inspection. 

Here's what to know

The buyer wrote in a post on r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer that the issue first came up during a general inspection, when the furnace would turn itself off and then go into a safety lockout, prompting the inspector to describe it as "critically failing." 

A separate HVAC specialist said the control board was malfunctioning and estimated the fix at about $1,200 with labor, according to the Reddit thread.

After the buyer brought up those findings, the sales office initially leaned on the home's "as is" status. The seller then arranged for its own HVAC contractor to inspect the unit, and that contractor reportedly concluded the furnace was fine.

"It was advertised as move-in ready, and the 'as is' argument came back after my inspection caused problems," the original poster declared.

A failing furnace can quickly turn a lower purchase price into a much bigger expense over time. Upgrading heating and cooling is one of the best ways to cut utility bills and protect against rising energy costs, and Palmetto can help homeowners understand their HVAC options, including newer, more efficient systems and heat pumps. 

Palmetto's Comfort Plan network can also help readers find efficient heating and cooling solutions for their home and connect them with vetted installers.

More background

Cost was a big reason the buyer was still considering the purchase. They said the home was in a park and priced at $70,000, while other homes in the same park were listed above $100,000 and some were pending around $200,000. The poster also noted the park has low lot rent and does not allow rentals.

The buyer explained the local housing market left few alternatives. According to the post, even older site-built homes with no updates started at about $360,000, and nearby rent wasn't especially attractive either.

Some commenters said the seller's favorable inspection should not outweigh the two earlier reports that identified a problem.

What can be done?

Rather than arguing in circles over which contractor was right, commenters suggested focusing on paperwork and pushed the OP to reconsider buying the place.

"A 26 year old furnace with a failing control board is a money pit waiting to happen, walk or demand the $1200 credit at closing," a commenter concluded.

The buyer sounded resigned to either paying for the repair or walking away. 

"Im just bracing to pay and fix it at this point honestly," they wrote. "It sucks but it's part of the process I guess. At least the roof is new."

For homeowners facing a 26-year-old system like this one, a Comfort Plan can include $0-down options that can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, and Palmetto Comfort Plans include 12 years of free maintenance.

Homeowners can pair solar panels with electric appliances, including efficient HVACs, to lower utility costs even further, and EnergySage makes it easy to compare solar options and find the best system and installer for their home and budget. EnergySage can help homeowners save up to $10,000 on solar installations.

Where can I learn more?

The same kinds of heating problems, disputed HVAC calls, and expensive repair decisions often plague homebuyers and homeowners. 

• One homebuyer weighed suing after an inspector's $12,000 mistake left the new house downgraded.

• A homeowner said a simple HVAC repair turned into an "unprofessional" $2,300 bill.

• Homeowners accused HVAC contractors of using trust-me sales tactics to push pricey systems.

• One homeowner was shocked when an HVAC tech pitched a nearly $30,000 furnace replacement.

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