Back boiler flue made from asbestos

[muran]

Hi

My husband and I have had an offer accepted on a house (built in 1963), we have had a full structural survey and in the report it mentions that the chimney flue to the back boiler is made of asbestos. They say, removal or repair may be expensive.

We want to remove the back boiler and cylinder tank (from upstairs) and replace it with a new combi boiler etc..

Has anyone ever come across a flue made from asbestos, if so would it be possible to remove the back boiler without affecting the asbestos?

The chimney breast also has shiplap wood on the outside (as a feature) we would also want to remove this too. But I guess it’s concrete or plaster board behind so should be safe to do so.

If anyone has an idea of how much this would cost, please let me know.

I do not have any more info on this as the surveyor was a bit vague.

Thanks very much

Muran

 

[ollski]

there are plenty of asbestos flues around still....what are you doing with the fireplace when you have removed the fire abd back boiler?. The best thing to do with asbestos is absolutely nothing!

 

[muran]

Hi

Once the back boiler is removed, we want to put in a standard gas fire with surround - whilst keeping the chimney breast of course.

We have had a quote on how much it would cost to remove the back boiler and put in a new gas fire, but this was before we knew about the asbestos.

Do you think it would be safe to remove the back boiler without going anywhere near the asbestos.

If this is such a common thing, then surely there is an easy way round it.

Thanks again.

 

[billy bob]

I have never come across a chimney lined with asbestos, you have asbestos cement flues that run externally, these are no problem, they just need to be dampened down on removal and bagged, it is not a specialist job to remove asbestos cement flues, I have a method statement for the removal of these flues

Did the surveyor say that the whole internal of your chimney was asbestos, as I find that hard to believe

 

[muran]

Hi Billy Bob

Thanks for the reply.

All the surveyor said in the report is:

"The brick, chimney stack appears in reasonable structural condition but it has an asbestos flue.

In the position it is in, the asbestos is unlikely to pose any significant health risk, however care will need to be taken when dealing with such item. Repair/removal costs could prove expensive."

That's all they said.
Muran

 

[billy bob]

I would think that the first part of the boiler flue is asbestos cement, it would be impossible to run this type of flue the entire length of the chimney, as chimneys are not straight and require flexible liners, have you had a look up the chimney, shine a torch up there and tell us what you can see

 

[bradleybear]

Surveyors are not asbestos experts. You must have it tested first indpendently before the conclusion can be made that its asbestos. Contact your local council environment and health department and for a small fee (£35 in west midlands) they will sample the pipe and tell you what it is. There is a ninety nine percent chance that it is just a poured concrete liner, as the logistics of getting a pre made asbestos pipe into the chimney void are a million to one (as far as I am aware). Its either poured concrete or salt glazed. Also, it may be what we call "top and tailed", whereby there is liner at the bottom, and liner at the top, so it may not run the full length of the chimney.

 

[muran]

We haven't taken a look as there is an old fashioned boxy gas fire attatched to the chimney breast so it is all sealed up.

Either way, I suspect it's nothing to worry about but we may get the local council to take a look, after all, 35 odd quid is peanuts compared to what you could spend on replacing the boiler

Thanks for all you help everyone.

Muran

 

[oilman]

Ok, now the liner's dealt with, next thing is the combi.

Why do you want one of these?

They are not good if you have more than two people in the house. (Also applies to a house which might be reasonably expected to house more than two people one day, as the value will be reduced. If you have a combi, what will you do for hot water if the boiler breaks down?


They do not fill baths very quickly, if someone else turns on another hot tap, it could well not fill at all.

Having said that they are a social benefit, as they give heating engineers lots of work.

Thank you in advance for considering employment prospects of heating engineers

 

[muran]

A combi is just an idea, we have only just learnt about different boilers so are still looking in to it. We will also look in to condensing boilers etc..

I have also read that combi boilers aren't good for big houses, and ours is. We aren't bath people but may be in the future - kids etc..

We want to get rid of the cylinder upstairs because it near the bathroom and we want to exend it by putting a shower cubicle in. But I think if we get rid of the cylinder, then we can't have a condensing boiler as the cylinder is needed - is this right?

 

[ollski]

No you can still have a condensing combi...you may be able to get a cylinder in your loft as well to extend your options, possibly a horizontal one it depends on the height and size of your loft space.