Electrical and Heating

Information by State  Print version

Chapter 1
Appraisal & Property Requirements
Page 1-26

A: Electrical Service:

1. May be either circuit breakers or fuses.

2. Appraisers should examine the electrical box to ensure that there are no frayed or exposed wires.

3. Existing 60-amp service is acceptable if it appears that this is adequate amperage for the appliances present in the property, or those considered "standard" if the present appliances appear to be less than found in the "standard" home.

4. Knob and tube wiring is acceptable if found to be in good condition and a minimum of 60-amps.

Electrical, plumbing and/or heating certifications may be called for by the appraiser when he/she cannot determine if one or all of these systems are working properly. An appraiser should not arbitrarily call for such certifications as they are still responsible for checking on the adequacy of these systems at the time of appraisal.

The certification must be done by a home inspector, an inspector from the local building department, an FHA compliance inspector, a professional in the specific field (e.g. electrician, plumber) or any individual deemed to be qualified by the Direct Endorsement underwriter. (Also see "Utilities Not On")

1. General: ALL habitable rooms must have a heat source. This does not mean that each room must contain a heating device but that each room must receive sufficient heat. (Exception: Homes located in the Caribbean, Hawaii and the Florida counties of Lee, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, Monroe and Miami-Dade do not require heat if, the lack of, is "typical" for the market area and does not adversely affect the marketability of the property.

2. Wood Stoves and Solar Systems: Dwellings with wood burning stoves or solar systems as a primary heat source must have permanently installed conventional heating systems that can maintain at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit in all living areas and those containing plumbing systems. These systems must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

3. Floor Heaters: Due to the inherit dangers of a floor heater it is highly recommended that floor heaters in need of repair be replaced with another permanent heat source.

4. Non-Conventional Heating Systems: All non-conventional heating systems, such as space heaters and others, must comply with local jurisdictional guidelines. Often these are not acceptable as the primary source of heat.

5. Propane tanks must be a safe distance from the dwelling. Leased tanks are acceptable when not offered for sale. Propane fired furnaces located in a crawl space area is not acceptable.