Problems with heating system in slab floor
Q. My wife and I are making an offer on a new home and are concerned about the heating system. It is hydronic heating, with hot water hoses running through the slab floor. We're worried because it is made with Entran III hoses, and we've learned that this material is part of an ongoing class action lawsuit. What are the chances that we will have problems with this system?
A. Entran III hoses, used for hydronic heating, are manufactured by Goodyear Tire Company. Because of the company's solid reputation in the tire business, problems with their heating hoses came as a big surprise to many people. The main issue was cracking of the lining inside the pipes, resulting in leakage and significant damage to the homes where this occurred.
Goodyear's previous version of the product, Entran II, was the subject of a class-action lawsuit that was settled for $324 million in 2009. The company then produced Entran III, an upgraded version of the original piping, intended to eliminate cracking and leakage. Unfortunately, complaints of leakage led to further lawsuits. In January of 2015, a federal court in Colorado ruled in favor of Goodyear, citing insufficient evidence to prove that their product was defective. However, related lawsuits continue.
Online discussions by contractors and home inspectors express uncertainties about the durability of Goodyear's Entran III hoses in homes with hydronic heating. Most of the alarmism, however, seems to come from attorney firms that are involved in related class action lawsuits.
Because there have been so may system failures in homes, and because final judgment on the matter has not been determined, it would be wise to approach the purchase of this home with caution. In all likelihood, there are new homes in your area with standard forced air heating systems that are not subject to questions and worries. Why take chances on a potentially defective hydronic heating system when you can find an equally desirable home with a conventional source of heat?
Q. I just moved into my house and found several problems that were missed by my home inspector. Now I've learned that he has only been in business a few months. What can I do to avoid being stuck with all the repair costs?
A. It has been said: "There are new home inspectors, and there are true home inspectors, but there are no new, true home inspectors."
Now that you've discovered undisclosed defects, you should contact your inspector. Ask him to reinspect the subject issues and explain why he did not report them. If the defects were visible and accessible, he should take responsibility for the repairs. If they are too costly for his budget, he should file a claim on his errors and omissions insurance, assuming that he is insured.
It would also be a good idea to have the home reinspected by a more experienced and qualified inspector to see what additional defects were missed.
• To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.
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