mysterious boxed area in airing cupboard

aggi

Hi,
Got a mystery to solve.
Moved to flat build in 70s and it had 2 boxed areas in airing cupboards. The one in the kitchen we have dismantled and we almost expected a dead body! Too much CiS:). But there was this strange shaft like thing on the right side wall with metal sheets pointing out. Quite difficult to remove or bend as it is very thick metal. We have left the second 'box' as not sure what this is? Above both of them there used to be access to loft that is boarded up. This is top floor flat. Is it some kind of heating system? It is about half a metre (2 feet) high from flor level and it takes whole area of the cupboard beneath that hight.

Any ideas? Best way to get rid of it?

Browntoa

Warm air heating system ?

https://goo.gl/images/muJK45


http://www.1stassociated.co.uk/new-house-heating-system.asp

aggi

I think you are right. Thank you. It would explain all air vents above the doors between the rooms:) is it safe to remove then for extra storage space or best leave it? Im thinking 70=asbestos.

lindor

may well contain asbestos. When we replaced a warm air system the vents all had to be left in situ as it was deemed too risky/expensive to remove them, so best to leave them alone or call in experts for advice

J_B

aggi wrote: »

Hi,
Got a mystery to solve.

The one in the kitchen we have dismantled and we almost expected a dead body!

Any ideas?

I'd still go with the 'dead body' theory again ......

aggi

Will leave it boxed then and try to seal somehow the one we already opened up. I need this space in kitchen as fridge lives there now. If we just seal the remains of the 'shaft' with chipboard will this be ok? I guess we lived with this opened up for months now so if anything is there (asbestos) we are affected anyway? Guess I should ask about it before I messed with it. I must admit I never came across such heating system or asbestos in my life!

Tucker65

Box it in... Paint the box, paint the paint and then just to be sure, encase it all in concrete.


But seriously... be careful, take every precaution and make sure you don't disturb any asbestos.

aylesby

Talk to the neighbors with a similar property. Warm air heating had its heyday in the sixties. This would probably have been built in as part of the original build. It may have some asbestos in its construction but do not get too concerned just get proper advice when you want to break it up for removal.

Hasbeen

It sounds like a galvanised metal outlet for the warm air heating, so no asbestos.

I had a 60s house with these to every room. ripped out the ones in the way and covered the floor vents.