Asbestos

[ColchesterFC]

Does anyone have any knowledge on the rules surrounding removal of asbestos? We've had a new combi boiler fitted which means we don't need the water tank in the loft anymore. The plumber has disconnected the water supply to it but couldn't remove it as it's made out of asbestos. I've measured it and it will fit through the loft hatch without having to be broken up. My question is, am I allowed to take it out of the loft and put it outside for a specialist firm to take it away and dispose of it or am I not allowed to touch it at all and have to pay someone to do the whole job?

Will be contacting a specialist on Monday but just wondered if anyone on here had any experience in this area.

 

[jim8flog]

Where I live they will take asbestos at the local dump provided it is correctly wrapped and sealed in heavy duty plastic and clearly labelled.

One thing is for sure do not break it up, it is the dust which will damage your lungs.

I would be wrapping it in plastic in situ before bringing it down.

Having said all that why cannot it just stay where it is?

 

[BiMGuy]

Don’t mess around with asbestos.

Get someone who knows what they are doing to remove it. Or leave it where it is if it’s not in the way.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Where I live they will take asbestos at the local dump provided it is correctly wrapped and sealed in heavy duty plastic and clearly labelled.

One thing is for sure do not break it up, it is the dust which will damage your lungs.

I would be wrapping it in plastic in situ before bringing it down.

Having said all that why cannot it just stay where it is?

Had new loft insulation fitted when we bought the house last year and it was laid on top of the boards in the loft. I've used loft stilts to raise one half to put the insulation under the boards and will be looking to do the same in the other half but taking the water tank out will give us extra storage. To me it's worth paying the money to get rid of it to free up the extra storage space.

 

[GreiginFife]

It’s like drinking bleach. There’s no rules against it but it’s not exactly wise.

Asbestos isn’t to be messed with, even if you think it isn’t going to break up. The risk isn’t worth it.

 

[Tashyboy]

Had a couple of experiences with asbestos whilst in the mining industry.
During one summer holiday shutdown we deep cleaned the pit head baths. We smashed it and had 3 days spare so the gaffer said paint the ceilings. I pulled off a piece of 3ft x 3ft webbing that was loose and all this fine glass like fibres came down. I had the biggest coughing fit ever. The gaffer came and had a look and asked us to seal it with Emulsion and PVA glue. The Union got to hear about it and had a company in to check it. It was blue sprayed flock asbestos. The baths were shut down and it was a massive job to get it all out and then seal the ceilings. They were looking through microscopes to see if there was any asbestos in the filters that sucked out the air. It literally looked like shards of cotton thread glass but minute. I told them I was the first exposed to it and they made sure that it was put down in my medical records ( their lab was set up in the medical centre). Don’t mess around with it and get a company in for piece of mind.

 

[Hobbit]

Came across it when I worked for BT 40 years ago. It was used as fire stops on cable runways between equipment rooms. Did an asbestos handling course.

Short answer = get a company in to deal with it.

However, if you’re going to do it yourself…

1) Respirator and tight fitting goggles.
2) Clothes that you don’t mind dropping in a bin bag.
3) Shower straight after dealing with it.
4) When you go up into the loft to work on it, seal the loft hatch behind you with plastic sheeting and gaffer tape before you ‘disturb‘ the tank.
5) Double bag the tank - basically, one layer of plastic taped on, then another. That way if you catch the edge of the loft hatch or drop it and you tear the plastic, there’s another layer underneath.
6) Once it’s outside either call the council and ask where you can drop it off or get a company to pick it up.

You could seal it, and leave it there but that doesn’t remove the risk. What you don’t want to happen is a mouse, squirrel, rat, bird gnawing or pecking at it.

I’d take the hit on the cost and get a company in.

 

[PJ87]

I'd recommend getting a company in to remove it.. especially out if a loft

We had an asbestos garage roof. My mate did the removal and packaged it up for the council to take..however that was straight forward, very much take off a garage roof, lay down in a sheet of plastic and fold up

A water tank will be very awkward I can imagine and imagine if it broke in your house

One of those annoying costs I'd say

Get a pro in

 

[ColchesterFC]

Came across it when I worked for BT 40 years ago. It was used as fire stops on cable runways between equipment rooms. Did an asbestos handling course.

Short answer = get a company in to deal with it.

However, if you’re going to do it yourself…

1) Respirator and tight fitting goggles.
2) Clothes that you don’t mind dropping in a bin bag.
3) Shower straight after dealing with it.
4) When you go up into the loft to work on it, seal the loft hatch behind you with plastic sheeting and gaffer tape before you ‘disturb‘ the tank.
5) Double bag the tank - basically, one layer of plastic taped on, then another. That way if you catch the edge of the loft hatch or drop it and you tear the plastic, there’s another layer underneath.
6) Once it’s outside either call the council and ask where you can drop it off or get a company to pick it up.

You could seal it, and leave it there but that doesn’t remove the risk. What you don’t want to happen is a mouse, squirrel, rat, bird gnawing or pecking at it.

I’d take the hit on the cost and get a company in.

I wish I'd read this reply before I went up to the loft earlier today and removed the tank.

I've managed to get it out of the loft and outside the house ready to be collected without any issues. Randomly met a guy today that has the required license and will be coming to collect it to get it disposed of.

Having looked at the tank I'm so glad we got the boiler changed and no longer need it. At some point the tank has been damaged and two pieces had broken off and fallen inside so were sitting in the bottom of the tank. There was also about half an inch of brown sludge at the bottom of the tank that was disgusting. We hadn't planned to get the boiler changed just yet but so glad we did. If anyone has a water tank in their house I would highly recommend getting it removed. The thought that we were brushing our teeth and showering in water that contained broken pieces of asbestos and god knows what in the sludge. Thankfully the downstairs taps were mains fed so we haven't been drinking it but it was disgusting.

 

[PJ87]

I wish I'd read this reply before I went up to the loft earlier today and removed the tank.

I've managed to get it out of the loft and outside the house ready to be collected without any issues. Randomly met a guy today that has the required license and will be coming to collect it to get it disposed of.

Having looked at the tank I'm so glad we got the boiler changed and no longer need it. At some point the tank has been damaged and two pieces had broken off and fallen inside so were sitting in the bottom of the tank. There was also about half an inch of brown sludge at the bottom of the tank that was disgusting. We hadn't planned to get the boiler changed just yet but so glad we did. If anyone has a water tank in their house I would highly recommend getting it removed. The thought that we were brushing our teeth and showering in water that contained broken pieces of asbestos and god knows what in the sludge. Thankfully the downstairs taps were mains fed so we haven't been drinking it but it was disgusting.

Ironically ATM water tanks (new ones slim line etc) are the best way to heat water for heat pumps etc for low carbon as they haven't designed something better yet

But for convenience a combi boiler can't be beaten

 

[ColchesterFC]

Ironically ATM water tanks (new ones slim line etc) are the best way to heat water for heat pumps etc for low carbon as they haven't designed something better yet

But for convenience a combi boiler can't be beaten

We've noticed a big reduction in our energy bills as well since having a combi boiler fitted, despite getting a bath fitted at the same time and Mrs Colch and Colch Jnr II both loving their baths. No longer having to heat an entire tank of water to do the washing up or have a shower has made a big difference. Would have loved to go down the heat pump route, especially as we had the cavity wall insulation done and the loft insulation upgraded when we moved in so we aren't losing as much heat from the house, but it just didn't work for us economically at the minute.

 

[Crow]

Ironically ATM water tanks (new ones slim line etc) are the best way to heat water for heat pumps etc for low carbon as they haven't designed something better yet

But for convenience a combi boiler can't be beaten

What's an automated teller machine got to do with water tanks?

 

[PJ87]

What's an automated teller machine got to do with water tanks?

You go to one to take out money to buy the tank of course

 

[cliveb]

We've noticed a big reduction in our energy bills as well since having a combi boiler fitted, despite getting a bath fitted at the same time and Mrs Colch and Colch Jnr II both loving their baths. No longer having to heat an entire tank of water to do the washing up or have a shower has made a big difference. Would have loved to go down the heat pump route, especially as we had the cavity wall insulation done and the loft insulation upgraded when we moved in so we aren't losing as much heat from the house, but it just didn't work for us economically at the minute.

Modern hot water tanks are so well insulated that there's no longer any significant benefit to only heating the water you use.

We've recently moved to a house with a combi boiler and on balance it has more cons than pros. Takes an age to get hot water running (don't even think about using "pre-heat"), and you don't have a nice warm airing cupboard.

 

[jim8flog]

. Takes an age to get hot water running (don't even think about using "pre-heat"), and you don't have a nice warm airing cupboard.

One of the plumbers giving me a quote suggested having a heating radiator in the airing cupboard.

My boiler has a pre heat mode and it stops all the water being wasted going down the drain when doing the washing up. Mind you as the boiler is in the kitchen I have got used to washing my hands and face in cold in the bathroom.

 

[jim8flog]

Modern hot water tanks are so well insulated that there's no longer any significant benefit to only heating the water you use.

We've recently moved to a house with a combi boiler and on balance it has more cons than pros. Takes an age to get hot water running (don't even think about using "pre-heat"), and you don't have a nice warm airing cupboard.

Problems with tanks have always been -
Every time you take out some hot water it is immediately replaced with cold so it cools down
Hot and cold tanks get sludge at the bottom.
You must heat the water to a around 70 C to kill any bacteria that might grow because the water is stored (with a combi you only heat the water to the temperature you need, less than 40C for washing hands and face.

 

[cliveb]

One of the plumbers giving me a quote suggested having a heating radiator in the airing cupboard.

Yes, we've got one of those. But it's not on in the summer, is it?

 

[Fade and Die]

Yes, we've got one of those. But it's not on in the summer, is it?

Stick a tubular heater in, uses about 55 Watts, you can wire it off the old immersion heater supply. Put it at the bottom of the cupboard and fit a guard around it.

 

[jim8flog]

Yes, we've got one of those. But it's not on in the summer, is it?

No or should that be yes
Same problem with heated towel rails in the bathroom and toilet.

 

[PJ87]

No or should that be yes
Same problem with heated towel rails in the bathroom and toilet.

Hybrid ones are the way around it.. part central heating controlled part electric.(for the summer)