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That doesn't make any sense, why would someone insulate the return pipes? There should be some record of the furnace installation at the building department that would shed some light on this. It obviously wasn't originally installed in a pre 1900 house, forced hot air really didn't exist until after ww2.
unstoppable
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2012 Dec 16, 7:32am
You can send away a small sample to a lab, if your paranoid you can have a friend pay for the testing to avoid a paper trail.
Old linoleum and tile can also have asbestos in them so keep an eye out.
If I was in your shoes I would get an asbestos removal estimate, use it to beat the seller up on price, then remove the asbestos myself.
It's not rocket science, a proper resperator, a tyvek bunny suit, duct tape, a spray bottle, some plastic tarp, a bunch of plastic bags and you're ready to get to work.
That doesn't make any sense, why would someone insulate the return pipes?
My guess is that the return pipes were originally feed pipes for a gravity feed system that have been re-purposed when it was updated to a forced air...
I don't hold out a lot of hope finding records on a very old furnace system, if records were even kept of such a thing.
everything
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2012 Dec 16, 12:33pm
Of course it's asbestos, what else did you think it was? It was still on the hardware store shelves until the 70's. I see guys remove it all the time. My college room mate worked for an a abatement company so I learned allot about it. The best thing is to just leave it alone, touching it will contaminate your whole house. IF you do remove it yourself put fans in the window so suck all the fibers out, they are very small. Put outside right away or immediately into plastic bags, also sealed immediately. Lol, don't tell anyone what you are doing. It's no big thing, every house I ever lived in had asbestos somewhere, every school I attended, etc. One in ten thousand people will get cancer or die from it no matter how you look at it.
Of course it's asbestos, what else did you think it was?
I've seen it, and I strongly suspect it is asbestos, but can't be sure without a definitive test. You haven't seen it and you are confident in saying that it is definitely asbestos.
Also, did you even read my post?
My guess is that the return pipes were originally feed pipes for a gravity feed system that have been re-purposed when it was updated to a forced air...
I don't hold out a lot of hope finding records on a very old furnace system, if records were even kept of such a thing.
Gravity feed for what? Still doesn't make much sense. Couldn't hurt to ask at the building department, depending on the town they have very extensive records dating back a long, long way.
Where are you getting $400-600 for testing from. http://www.asbestos-test.com/stepbystep.htm mail a sample costs $30.00 and it's confidential.
How much return duct is there? Shouldn't be all that much in retrofitted old house. What renovations would possibly disturb the ducting?
Almost 100% chance its asbestos or has asbestos in it. I would have it removed professionally or leave it alone. The type used in duct or pipe insulation is friable and is dangerous when disturbed. Floor tile typically, 9"x9" in size is not friable and much safer to deal with without negative air and special training. Yes you would legally have to disclose it if you tested positive at least in the States I know of.
Gravity feed for what? Still doesn't make much sense.
Gravity feed systems are old central heaters that don't have fans to circulate the air, but instead rely on convection. Since the movement of air is much slower than with a blower, they used larger ducting, as I understand it. To my eyes it looks like they re-purposed a few of the old ducts for the air return. In any case it doesn't really matter if it makes sense....there are two large return pipes going to the air handler and both are wrapped in white paper...
Where are you getting $400-600 for testing from. http://www.asbestos-test.com/stepbystep.htm mail a sample costs $30.00 and it's confidential.
Yes, there are local labs that will do the same for about that cost. The $expensive figure above is for a full inspection of the house for asbestos, I think. I'm primarily concerned about the ducting (that's what I know about), but there is possibly some in other places...attic insulation, etc.
How much return duct is there? Shouldn't be all that much in retrofitted old house. What renovations would possibly disturb the ducting?
One long run, maybe 40 feet? One shorter run, maybe 15 feet or so. As for renovations that would disturb the ducting:
1. Dig out the basement. Right now it's only a partial basement with crawlspace. We may want to dig out the basement in the future which would necessitate re-working of the ducts.
2. Installing radon mitigation system. The basement tested for (slightly) elevated radon levels...mitigation involves installing a plastic barrier over the dirt crawlspace and venting to the outside. This would likely disturb the ducting.
3. Installing central air. Not sure if this would affect the current ducting, but it could. Some HVAC shops won't touch a system with asbestos wrapped ducts.
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I'm under contract on a house and initial inspection turns up possible (probable) asbestos on some of the ducting. I have researched it "extensively" on the web and I'm generally fairly comfortable with living with asbestos in place. A few things concern me about this particular case, though.
Note this is a very old house, built before 1900. I don't believe asbestos was in wide use when the house was built.
1. A thorough asbestos inspection has not been conducted, and so far the only suspected place that has asbestos is the AIR RETURN ducts leading to the furnace. Normally if asbestos is on the positive pressure side of the furnace (going from furnace to vents) people say that the risk of contamination is very low because even if the asbestos is disturbed near a duct joint the pressure inside the duct would tend to keep the asbestos out, and not draw it in. On an air return it seems the opposite would be true. Once in the system, the blower distributes it throughout the house.
2. Even if I'm completely convinced that there is no danger posed to me or my family, if I were to sell the house I may face a buyer who wants it removed, probably at great expense.
3. If I do renovations int he future as I plan to do, any asbestos would have to be dealt with at that time, probably at great expense.
So I'm concerned about the possible asbestos and whether or not I should:
a) have an inspection / test done. This appears to be fairly expensive, $400-$600. There is some concern about testing and getting definitive knowledge that there is asbestos -- does that legally obligate me to tell someone who I would rent it to, for example. Do I now have additional obligations to have anything tested that I might disturb, where I otherwise might not? etc.
b) request that the seller perform asbestos removal prior to closing.
c) back out of the deal if they are unwilling.
I'd appreciate your thoughts?