Warm air heater removal

danrv

Hi
My 1970’s  property still has the original electric warm air heater installed and I’m looking to dismantle and dispose of it.
It’s a Unidare R10/73, weighs 482kg and sits on a plenum. Very likely contains asbestos in the insulation.
I can isolate and disconnect the two power feeds ok. 
Regarding handling the insulation and internals, I’ll likely spray diluted PVA inside with a garden sprayer and let it dry before taking apart.
The plenum is covered with a yellow foam material that could be hazardous. 
Just wondering if anybody has done this anything like this before and has any tips.
Any help appreciated. 

grumbler

After spraying, I wouldn't wait until it dries.

Yellow foam looks like ordinary PIR (Celotex/Kingspan). If so, not really a hazard.

Phil4432

Best to assess what type of asbestos you are dealing with, I'd get a local asbestos company to come down and give an opinion and probably a test.

If you are dealing with high content asbestos, you'd need a licensed asbestos company to assist with removal.  HSE would require a notification, which the company would sort out.

I had an old warm air system with central heating.  To save much headache and heartache, get the asbestos checked and then planned for its safe removal first and foremost.

danrv

Phil4432 said:

Best to assess what type of asbestos you are dealing with, I'd get a local asbestos company to come down and give an opinion and probably a test.

If you are dealing with high content asbestos, you'd need a licensed asbestos company to assist with removal.  HSE would require a notification, which the company would sort out.

I had an old warm air system with central heating.  To save much headache and heartache, get the asbestos checked and then planned for its safe removal first and foremost.

Ok. Possibly some cash involved and not DIY.
I could try the local council. 

Section62

danrv said:

Phil4432 said:

Best to assess what type of asbestos you are dealing with, I'd get a local asbestos company to come down and give an opinion and probably a test.

If you are dealing with high content asbestos, you'd need a licensed asbestos company to assist with removal.  HSE would require a notification, which the company would sort out.

I had an old warm air system with central heating.  To save much headache and heartache, get the asbestos checked and then planned for its safe removal first and foremost.

Ok. Possibly some cash involved and not DIY.
I could try the local council. 

The local council are unlikely to help with the removal, but may have a list of 'recommended' asbestos removal companies - i.e. ones they know are legit and won't dump the asbestos in a layby.

If you contact reputable asbestos removal companies with details of the heater they would usually be able to work out what asbestos it may contain with a reasonable degree of confidence, just from the age and manufacturer's records/prior knowledge.  I'd suggest you may still want some on-site inspection/testing as the 'known' information won't cover materials that were used in the installation.

danrv

Section62 said:

danrv said:

Phil4432 said:

Best to assess what type of asbestos you are dealing with, I'd get a local asbestos company to come down and give an opinion and probably a test.

If you are dealing with high content asbestos, you'd need a licensed asbestos company to assist with removal.  HSE would require a notification, which the company would sort out.

I had an old warm air system with central heating.  To save much headache and heartache, get the asbestos checked and then planned for its safe removal first and foremost.

Ok. Possibly some cash involved and not DIY.
I could try the local council. 

If you contact reputable asbestos removal companies with details of the heater they would usually be able to work out what asbestos it may contain with a reasonable degree of confidence

Yes, that’s the first step I think. Once I know a bit more, I can decide whether to DIY or not.

danrv

Nothing back from the local council but there’s a couple of companies listed in their hazardous waste section.
I’ve asked a storage heater parts retailer now about the issue as they were helpful before when I contacted them.

Eldi_Dos

Companies that replace boilers often test existing equipment for asbestos before planning replacement, local heating company might help you find local testing operative.

danrv

I’ll give it to early next week but I’m probably on my own with it given I’ve had nothing back from enquiries so far.
I may just take it out as my neighbours did with theirs. A plumber helped and there was no testing or specific professional involvement.

diystarter7

danrv said:

I’ll give it to early next week but I’m probably on my own with it given I’ve had nothing back from enquiries so far.
I may just take it out as my neighbours did with theirs. A plumber helped and there was no testing or specific professional involvement.

A property we rent out built in 68 I think had its warm air heater replaced in 2007 and that was sitting on a wooden stool kind of thing. We bought the house in 2010 and had it taken out and plumber did it but I guess the experts that recently installed it had already removed the asbestos.
Best to get it checked or get a plumber to do it.
Btw, as the heater was realtively new we sold it

danrv

diystarter7 said:

danrv said:

I’ll give it to early next week but I’m probably on my own with it given I’ve had nothing back from enquiries so far.
I may just take it out as my neighbours did with theirs. A plumber helped and there was no testing or specific professional involvement.

Best to get it checked or get a plumber to do it.

They haven’t got back. I’d like to get going with it as it’s pulling my house down (cracks in the walls around it).