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Posted by BETA-33 on February 16, 2008, 8:08 pm
I agree. I'm not sure if they would have a plan for a 6-unit co-op heater,
but if they do you should think about signing up. The utility company where
I am (PSE&G) has a service plan and I have it on 3 different houses that
have other families living in them. PSE&G has day shift and evening shift
crews on at least 5 days a week and at least a day shift on weekends. When
something goes wrong, all I do is call them and they come out later that
day. Plus, they really do know what they are doing and they aren't
motivated to try to sell you something you do not need. If you have 6
people who can't agree on things, having a plan in place means if the heater
breaks there is no question about who to get to fix it, how much it will
cost, when they will be able to get there to fix it, etc.
> Check with your utlity company. Mine (Columbia Gas) is constantly sending
> me promo info on warranties for everything from the furnace to the toilet
> plunger. Generally these aren't a good investmetn unless they are for a
> really old unit, and even then you have to read the really small print to
> be sure they don't prorate the coverage based on the age of the unit.
> Also be careful since these often only cover single-family dwellings and
> they may see your installation as more of a commercial matter.
>
>
>> Thanks. Our coop building has a history of contention among the six
>> shareholders.
>>
>> The boiler which went bad was installed in about 1998, before my time
>> here. It was a job done on the cheap and probably was the wrong boiler
>> and incorrectly installed from the outset.
>>
>> It was a close vote to spend a little more money and get a better boiler
>> from a reliable contractor. But already within the first two years we are
>> saving from $3,000 to $5,000 a year on oil costs. In other words, the new
>> boiler will pay for itself in four or five years.
>>
>> And, I hope, it will last for 20 to 30 years. But with the other one
>> going bad in just 8 years, some of the residents are uneasy about lack of
>> protection.
>>
>> I tend to agree with your assessment that we'd be better to determine how
>> much a service plan or warranty program, and then put that amount into a
>> reserve fund to replace the boiler whenever it needs replacing.
>>> Our very old six-unit coop building uses an oil-fired boiler furnace.
>>> The
>>> last one we had lasted for only eight years.
>>>
>>> Is it possible to get insurance on boilers? If so, where?
>>
>>
>> What you want is a warranty program or service plan, not insurance.
>> Every warranty program that I've seen for something like this has not
>> been a good deal. Why are you so concerned about a boiler for a six
>> unit coop? Usually boilers last a lot longer than 8 years. If it
>> goes, you split the cost 6 ways and it shouldn't be such an
>> extraordinary expense. It will be a lot less than paying for some
>> warranty program that MIGHT cover whatever goes wrong. Most of them
>> try to wiggle out with various loopholes. I'd get yearly maintenance
>> and fuggeda bout it!
>>
>
>
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