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steam return pipe length of house

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cblank017
cblank017 Member Posts: 5
in Strictly Steam
Hi we are selling our house and there was a question about what insulation the pipe was wrapped in. It has foil wrapped, date 12/97 with words Narshua or Nashua 324A Listed 7N13 181A-P, or close to that. I touched it feels thin. Please tell me that's fiberglass. It's in very very good condition.

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  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,677
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    Please post some pictures, the foil tape it's wrapped it doesn't tell us anything about what's under it. :(

    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
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    If it is the only layer and it is from 1997 it is definitely not asbestos.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,677
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    RobG said:

    If it is the only layer and it is from 1997 it is definitely not asbestos.

    Unless someone wrapped some asbestos in foil tape to try and protect it.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-2-1-2-in-x-60-yd-324-Amp-Premium-Cold-Weather-UL-Listed-HVAC-Foil-Tape-1207794/100048600
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
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    ChrisJ said:

    RobG said:

    If it is the only layer and it is from 1997 it is definitely not asbestos.

    Unless someone wrapped some asbestos in foil tape to try and protect it.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-2-1-2-in-x-60-yd-324-Amp-Premium-Cold-Weather-UL-Listed-HVAC-Foil-Tape-1207794/100048600
    Good point. I assumed it was the roll type insulation. I just looked it up and saw that it was tape. Peel some of the foil tape back and post a pick of what's underneath. Wear a dust mask when you do it and re-cover the area when you are done.
  • cblank017
    cblank017 Member Posts: 5
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    It's not foil tape its sheets. I pulled a section some foil that was lose by the furnace.
  • cblank017
    cblank017 Member Posts: 5
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    the date on the foil sheet is 12/97
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    What is underneath the sheet?

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • cblank017
    cblank017 Member Posts: 5
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    It's in the first picture. It's wrapped up in white.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Hard to tell from just this picture but it certainly looks like the original asbestos insulation. The foil was probably to encapsulate it.
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
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    When was the house built?
  • cblank017
    cblank017 Member Posts: 5
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    1941, if it is what do I do. I want the house sale to go through.
  • Brewbeer
    Brewbeer Member Posts: 616
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    What state is the house in? Asbestos removal requirements vary by state.
    Hydronics inspired homeowner with self-designed high efficiency low temperature baseboard system and professionally installed mod-con boiler with indirect DHW. My system design thread: http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/154385
    System Photo: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/79/451e1f19a1e5b345e0951fbe1ff6ca.jpg
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    cblank017 said:

    1941, if it is what do I do. I want the house sale to go through.

    A lot depends on the buyer. Some local codes and/or states only require that it be incapsulated so as to not become airborne. If you happen to be in one of those areas AND the buyer is satisfied with that, you may just need to recover any exposed areas. Of course it can't be flaking and/or crumbing and it probably has to be disclosed to the buyer.
    Worse case, you will have to have it removed. For the pipes in the basement, that is not likely to be a huge expense but it will cost something. In most cases the original installation did not include any insulation on any pipes that went up the walls. I think they viewed the heat loss from those pipes as contributing to heating the interior of the building so you most likely will only have to deal with the basement and you should reinsulate those pipes with fiberglass, which is something you could do yourself in a weekend.
  • Steam
    Steam Member Posts: 45
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    The only way to tell if it is asbestos is to have it tested. Guessing is not recommended. "Well, it looks like asbestos, or calcium silicate, or it looks asbestos free, or it's non asbestos, or that can't be asbestos because" is dangerous.

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