Warm air heater removal

ThisIsWeird

Good move, Dan.

I was going to suggest to re-contact the manufacturer with your specific serial number - ask THEM to confirm it's asbestos free, based on your ser-numb.

Really, don't DIY it unless you have confirmation it's ok. That should be straight-forward, and chances are, you'll be informed it is fine.

I bought a couple of second-hand Dimplex storage heaters recently for a project, and I asked for the model number before purchase; I confirmed with Dimplex on-line it was asbestos-free. After using the bricks, I took the rest to the local recycling centre - a guy there nearly had apoplexy when he saw me carry the empty casing to the 'metal' container. Fair do's - he wouldn't take my word for it that I'd checked it was fine, but the good news was that all they required of me was to double-bag it up before returning to them. No actual charge, which makes sense, 'cos they don't want folk dumping this sort of stuff in the countryside..

So, check with the manufacturer first using your serial number. If 'ok', then mask, overalls, (tobersuretobesure) and everything else you have already spoken about, bag it up, and put it out with the 'household'.

danrv

Thanks.

This is the furthest I got to finding any info on the heater and asbestos. From an Electricaire storage heater specialist:

'The r10 with serial number 140Z would seem to be a later one as the early serial numbers were 08/72 (month and year of man) etc with the last two digits as per above chart.

If you can find any other labels on unit there may be a smaller one saying made in uk by unidare enviromental or it might say made by S.T.L ltd

The STL units were not produced until after 1992 so there are perfectly safe the early models are normally denoted by model numbers like above ie. 10/73 later ones were just R10

If you have a good look over unit again that would pin it down.'

Couldn't see any other plates or info anywhere on the heater so left it at that. The chart mentioned refers to an online storage heater reference list that the company uses:

https://www.armco.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/List-of-storage-heaters-containing-asbestos-updated-Aug-2019.xlsx

Going by that, it would appear that this heater doesn't contain asbestos. It is a little confusing as the model number is R10/73. This is the kW and kWh rating and not date/year as shown in the serial No. in the list.

All a bit long winded but is potentially a very expensive removal job so worth researching a bit.

I'll contact the manufacturer anyway as suggested. Unidare and Dimplex are connected I think.

ThisIsWeird

That's the thing - the 140Z serial number doesn't make sense to me in relation to their advice, so tell them it's 140Z (and whatever else - it must surely be a bigger number than that?), and wait for them to say, "No prob - we can confirm that was made in 19xx and is asb- free...). Or not.

If they confirm it's ok, I would still take normal care based on tickly fibres as with, say, loft insulation - and dampen it down and remove it gently. Hoover up any obvious quants. 

Phil4432

danrv said:

A sample to test is £125 + vat. 
Any additional samples required while on site are £35 + vat each.
Worth it I think for clarification.

Yes, it's worth it.  Do this first.  The company should be able to give advice as to how to proceed.

I strongly recommend putting safety first and using a company.

£3,500 a bit steep by the way.  I paid considerably less than that and I'm London, though that was 6 years back.

What's the plan out of interest, replacing with rads?

danrv

Phil4432 said:

danrv said:

A sample to test is £125 + vat. 
Any additional samples required while on site are £35 + vat each.
Worth it I think for clarification.

Yes, it's worth it.  Do this first.  The company should be able to give advice as to how to proceed.

I strongly recommend putting safety first and using a company.

£3,500 a bit steep by the way.  I paid considerably less than that and I'm London, though that was 6 years back.

What's the plan out of interest, replacing with rads?

Thanks.
I'll try getting confirmation about the serial. No from Dimplex first then take it from there.
I've fitted multisplit Aircon as a similar heating system to the warm air.
It's only for the main living areas but it heats well.

danrv

ThisIsWeird said:

I was going to suggest to re-contact the manufacturer with your specific serial number - ask THEM to confirm it's asbestos free, based on your ser-numb.

Going on the data plate, Dimplex have confirmed that the unit was manufactured in 1999 and was made with no asbestos materials. This also ties in with the Electricairespares info that the 140Z serial No. indicates a later model.
This would mean that it was installed 2000 onwards.

Something doesn’t quite add up though as it does look a lot older and the property report says heater installation 1975, when the house was built. There’s no mention of it being replaced, just a new fan fitted in 2013.
Was worth taking the time and getting confirmation from Dimplex as a step further but with the discrepancy of the information, I’ll now need to get a sample tested to be sure.

Phil4432

danrv said:

ThisIsWeird said:

I was going to suggest to re-contact the manufacturer with your specific serial number - ask THEM to confirm it's asbestos free, based on your ser-numb.

Going on the data plate, Dimplex have confirmed that the unit was manufactured in 1999 and was made with no asbestos materials. This also ties in with the Electricairespares info that the 140Z serial No. indicates a later model.
This would mean that it was installed 2000 onwards.

Something doesn’t quite add up though as it does look a lot older and the property report says heater installation 1975, when the house was built. There’s no mention of it being replaced, just a new fan fitted in 2013.
Was worth taking the time and getting confirmation from Dimplex as a step further but with the discrepancy of the information, I’ll now need to get a sample tested to be sure.

Possibly the boiler was replaced, but not the actual system; so the boiler could still have AIB boards in its vicinity, from the original '75 installation.

danrv

Phil4432 said:

danrv said:

ThisIsWeird said:

I was going to suggest to re-contact the manufacturer with your specific serial number - ask THEM to confirm it's asbestos free, based on your ser-numb.

Going on the data plate, Dimplex have confirmed that the unit was manufactured in 1999 and was made with no asbestos materials. This also ties in with the Electricairespares info that the 140Z serial No. indicates a later model.
This would mean that it was installed 2000 onwards.

Something doesn’t quite add up though as it does look a lot older and the property report says heater installation 1975, when the house was built. There’s no mention of it being replaced, just a new fan fitted in 2013.
Was worth taking the time and getting confirmation from Dimplex as a step further but with the discrepancy of the information, I’ll now need to get a sample tested to be sure.

Possibly the boiler was replaced, but not the actual system; so the boiler could still have AIB boards in its vicinity, from the original '75 installation.

It's a storage heater and looks to be all the same age.

danrv

ThisIsWeird said:

I was going to suggest to re-contact the manufacturer with your specific serial number - ask THEM to confirm it's asbestos free, based on your ser-numb.

Really, don't DIY it unless you have confirmation it's ok. That should be straight-forward, and chances are, you'll be informed it is fine.

Thanks.
Yes, the info obtained points to it being asbestos free.
Regardless of the installation/manufacture date and appearance, Dimplex have confirmed this and so does the online data sheet on storage heaters.
I’ll dismantle it with care.

danrv

The insulation is a thick foam type. Have soaked it with diluted PVA after taking off the front cover just to be on the safe side.
Anyway, it’s not AIB.