Warm air heating and asbestos

[Worried1]

Hi,

I’ve just bought a property and doing asbestos survey and my father reminded me that about 15 years ago we ripped the 1969 warm air electric heating out of our house.

I knew nothing of asbestos but he said not to breathe it in and hold my breath, as I carried chunks of it (I think it was blue) outside.

I’m pretty annoyed because I know he did this to save money and I now find this was actually highly dangerous. Def had it over me for a few hours.

does anyone know if it would have been the blue kind on this old electric warm air system?

has anyone made similar/did similar when younger?

he seems to think I’m over reacting and everyone worked with it back in the day....holding your breath doesn’t seem an effective strategy. Anyone know what the risk is from one exposure and if it’s likely blue asbestos in this type of system?

 

[SimonG]

Holding your breath would be like peeing in the ocean. Make no difference.

If it's in the past then theres nothing that can be done. It will either affect you or not.

Go make an appointment with a respiratory specialist and Express your concerns and what to expect in the future.

 

[Tea-Break]

Blue (Crocidolite) Asbestos, was mainly used in industrial installations. It’s primary use was as thermal insulation to pipe work and yes ducting.
Speaking as someone who installed and replaced many warm air systems, both electric and gas (late 70s). I have never seen ‘blue’ asbestos in a domestic setting.
However, the gas flues were frequently manufactured from ‘white’ asbestos. Likewise the compartments were often lined with sheet asbestos, as a fire precaution.
So I would say your exposure was to Chrysotile ‘White’ Asbestos. Although still dangerous,
not to the same degree as the Blue.
All asbestos is dangerous and should be avoided. Therefore, your exposure was probably
minimal and given the time elapsed. You are God willing okay.

 

[centralheatking]

Hi,

I’ve just bought a property and doing asbestos survey and my father reminded me that about 15 years ago we ripped the 1969 warm air electric heating out of our house.

I knew nothing of asbestos but he said not to breathe it in and hold my breath, as I carried chunks of it (I think it was blue) outside.

I’m pretty annoyed because I know he did this to save money and I now find this was actually highly dangerous. Def had it over me for a few hours.

does anyone know if it would have been the blue kind on this old electric warm air system?

has anyone made similar/did similar when younger?

he seems to think I’m over reacting and everyone worked with it back in the day....holding your breath doesn’t seem an effective strategy. Anyone know what the risk is from one exposure and if it’s likely blue asbestos in this type of system?

Over the past 30 years I have serviced, worked on domestic hot air and water units, and taken a fair few out never seen any asbestos in partic the blue stuff at all.
centralheatking

 

[Worried1]

I’m curious to what this stuff was then. My old man said it was asbestos and I don’t remember it being white, I actually think it was a green/blue colour. It was from 1969 so quite an old system, it was one of the townhouses 3 floor garage on bottom.
My old man was a spark for 20 years and he said he tried to get it out in chunks and there was TONS of it, whatever it was. Perhaps it was Chrysotile composite of some sort. Def remember a load of blue/green dust over the metal plates.

I suppose I can’t do jack about it now anyway.

 

[Last Plumber]

Hi,

I’ve just bought a property and doing asbestos survey and my father reminded me that about 15 years ago we ripped the 1969 warm air electric heating out of our house.

I knew nothing of asbestos but he said not to breathe it in and hold my breath, as I carried chunks of it (I think it was blue) outside.

I’m pretty annoyed because I know he did this to save money and I now find this was actually highly dangerous. Def had it over me for a few hours.

does anyone know if it would have been the blue kind on this old electric warm air system?

has anyone made similar/did similar when younger?

he seems to think I’m over reacting and everyone worked with it back in the day....holding your breath doesn’t seem an effective strategy. Anyone know what the risk is from one exposure and if it’s likely blue asbestos in this type of system?

If you didn't have it tested at the time, unfortunately you will never know what it was. However, if this helps, the asbestos known as 'Blue', is referred to that way because if you look at it under a microscope it will appear to be blue. It is not referred to as blue because it is 'painted Blue'. If I read and understand your post correctly, you have removed some insulation which was painted or coated in something Blue? If that's the case, it could have been anything. I know it is easy to say but there's little point in worrying about it now.
I have seen many materials in my working life that I would swear contained asbestos and they turned out not to and many that unexpectedly did have it in. You could be worrying over nothing, but even if it was something, you may well have been lucky. Not everyone who worked with it is guaranteed to suffer.

 

[jeff hardcastle]

I want to remove a 1975ish thermair warm air heater from a flat. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THE HEATER CONTAINS ASBESTOS?

 

[Tea-Break]

I want to remove a 1975ish thermair warm air heater from a flat. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THE HEATER CONTAINS ASBESTOS?

Hi Jeff,
Please see my previous post above. It’s highly likely that the compartment is lined with Chrysotile (White) Asbestos and if it was a Gas unit the flue may well also have some Chrysotile components.
So the answer is Yes (probably).

 

[gpbeck]

My hot air system cupboard was lined with white boarding. I assumed the worst but it was Superlux and asbestos free.

 

[Lou]

(Just bumping a few older threads, they will drop off what is new soon)

Check Out Plumbing News!