Asbestos in warm air unit

[Deleted member 174758]

A cylinder with an electric heater element in it. Normally inside a small cupboard on the landing or sometimes in the corner if the bathroom. It supplies hot water to the sinks and bath. The cupboard normally has slatted siftwood shelving used to air out linen, etc. Not always found in modern houses but very common in 60s and 70s houses (unless it has been removed). So, how do you heat water?

 

[Fabgab]

 

[Fabgab]

This? It had a plastic red jacket on it … that we took off x

 

[Deleted member 174758]

That's the kiddie. The "plastic jacket" normally contains either fibre glass or mineral wool insulation. It reduces your electricity bill a bit by retaining heat in the cylinder. Not as good as a modern insulated cylinder, but nevertheless they do reduce your bill a bit, so why remove it unless you intend to replace the cylinder?

Edit: Just realised that yours appears to have a leak...

 

[Fabgab]

We’re getting a combi boiler with radiators as the house currently has a ducted air unit throughout the whole house

 

[Ihavenojob]

View attachment 287167

That is your hot water cylinder, heated by the circulator (water heater) inside the warm air heater case to the right. It has no immersion heater, though there is a plugged off opening for one in the top of the cylinder. If you are getting a new cylinder, get the correct type, probably a direct heated one rather than indirect. Nice bit of scrap value in the old cylinder.

 

[Fabgab]

So could these walls have asbestos?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I used to live in a house with ducted air heating. It cost a fortune to heat

 

[Fabgab]

Ha yeh! The workmen took that away! ‍

 

[Deleted member 174758]

So could these walls have asbestos?

Most likely the back of the door and the ceiling. If ex-council they might have an asbestos survey for the house, or even have stripped it out, in which case they should be able to give details. Did thd vendor not provide this info?

 

[Fabgab]

Thanks, it wasn’t an ex council house and the doors where all brown. The only white door with a vent at the top was the door to the cupboard downstairs which house the j32 unit.

 

[Fabgab]

This is in the kitchen…. Is it just plasterboard? Thank you ALL for your help by the way

 

[denso13]

Is it just plasterboard?

It looks like it, but there is no sure way to tell just by looking at different photos.

 

[Fabgab]

That looks like a Johnson and Starley Hi-Spec J32. The Honeywell plate is just for the gas valve.

Do a Google search. If it does contain asbestos, it will be AIB - second least hazardous type. However not an issue unless you are dismantling it. Should be OK for careful removal, but disposal by specialist.

The cupboard door may have an AIB panel lining or internal.

The wall lining is blown vinyl paper, you can see the lines. But check behind first, often, blown vinyl is used to cover uneven (artex) coatings

What do you feel about this around the kitchen window? Plasterboard? Also could the vents be made of anything dangerous?

 

[denso13]

What do you feel about this around the kitchen window? Plasterboard?

It looks like it, but there is no sure way to tell just by looking at different photos.