Dismantling old steam boiler

metrorental

hello, it's time to dismantle and remove this decommissioned boiler from our building storage room. we installed forced air heat/ac 20 years ago but i enjoyed having this in our space. can anyone please look at the insulation material in the picture and comment as to whether or not it would typically be asbestos. also, if someone could recommended a demolition co. in chicago that would really help. thanks in advance, neil

Jamie Hall

There are very good odds that there is asbestos in the insulation. I strongly recommend having it tested before you mess with it at all.

retiredguy

The rope that you see in the bottom picture is definitely asbestos rope and needs to be handled by an abatement company that deals with asbestos. Once all the asbestos has been abated, any one with a cutting torch and a strong back could cut that boiler up and get rid of it. I would do it but I am too old and too weak.

JUGHNE

Is it possible to remove it intact if you cut all the piping off?
Stairs and doorway to the outside?

metrorental

there's no way to get it out in 1 piece. both front and back stairs have winders etc.
if asbestos i don't see how to abate it without taking down some of the pieces like the vent hood.
would a typical installation of a boiler of this type have insulating material in other locations as well?
thanks
neil

Jamie Hall

Very very likely to be asbestos in odd spots. It's a shame you need to move it...

Steamhead

Jamie Hall said:

Very very likely to be asbestos in odd spots. It's a shame you need to move it...

It's a shame they abandoned the steam in the first place.

Gilmorrie

That fire-tube boiler was a real gem. It may have been set in place before the floor above was built. Your best option is to hire an asbestos abatement contractor and then another contractor to demolish and remove the boiler. It might be better to just hire one prime contractor for removal and let him subcontract with an abatement specialist. That big pressure gauge would make a great wall-hanging somewhere!

mattmia2

Gaskets, insulation, shields, supports, fire bricks, refractory cements, random sealants/caulks/mastics..

metrorental

@mattmia2 that's exactly what i was getting at. i don't see how an abatement contractor can remove all of the hazardous material without substantially deconstructing the whole boiler.
as to it's abandonment, when i renovated the apartments upstairs 20 years ago, we added furnaces/ central air/ ductwork etc. the tenants are quite comfortable controlling their own energy usage.
now i need to fix up that space to make a free apartment for my just graduated, and broke, son.

Jamie Hall

Considering what it's going to cost to remove the boiler, I'm not quite sure that "free" applies...

If you didn't touch it, nothing would have to be abated. However, if you touch it, everything related to the work must be tested and abated. The penalties for not doing so are severe -- sufficiently so, in fact, that it's cheaper (though hardly inexpensive!) to do it correctly.

And I completely agree with @Gilmorrie -- create a contract with a reputable firm (not you Uncle Harry's cousin's friend Seth) to remove it completely from the previses, including all abatement and cleanup that may be required. Don't even think of trying to do it yourself, or even acting as the general on it.

metrorental

@Jamie Hall nothing's really free when it comes to the kids, and though i'm sure few people outside of this forum would want to live with that beast, you're right that it might be the best solution to just leave it there. it does become an issue if the building is to be sold and an inspection invariably notes the "removal of all unused piping and etc.."
also, btw, i am a licensed and insured general contractor, with some experience with abatement contractors for asbestos, oil, underground tanks, siding, flooring, etc.. i have just never seen the inside of an old boiler like this one.
thanks again for all of the advice.

EBEBRATT-Ed

If you get the right abatement company they will do the whole thing

Jamie Hall

Even if you are a licensed general, @metrorental , I don't recommend taking it on yourself. Your several jumps ahead, though, as you know what should be there!

PerryHolzman

While there are companies that do both the mechanical and asbestos demodulation as a combined project (as this boiler would require); may I suggest an alternative.

It is likely far cheaper to hire a contractor to dig a hole on the side of the basement (I see those nice windows), open the wall up, take the thing out in 1 piece (removing just the piping and burner); landfill it (without disassembly); and rebuild the wall and fill in the hole.

Simple, direct, and I assure you likely much cheaper than a proper asbestos/demolition contractor.

I wish you best with this,

Perry

PerryHolzman

Also, you might want to add a new entrance to the basement in the process; assuming that you have room in the land around the house for that.

There are several advantages to adding a new basement entrance.

I helped my brother do that on his house; and then he removed the old stairs and installed a small half bath off the kitchen where the old stairs used to be.

Perry

JUGHNE

If that is to be a basement rental, usually an egress door or window is required in addition to the existing staircase.
Perhaps there is code requirement for the distance between the 2 exits.

Perry's idea may be a solution to both issues.

PerryHolzman

Or perhaps set it up as a future rental unit...

JUGHNE

IIRC, it is going to be a rental unit......income questionable.
(I have 4 kids all out of the nest now)

EdTheHeaterMan

metrorental said:

@mattmia2
...now i need to fix up that space to make a free apartment for my just graduated, and broke, son.

Bin der dun dat... My son is in my house that he grew up in. Now I'm looking for an apartment. LOL

I say leave the boiler in there and give the kid a box of N-95 masks. Hell we all grew up with that stuff floating around the shop, and we all turned out alright! Cough --- Cough-cough.

metrorental

thanks for all the comments. it's not going to be a rental so just for my kid. @PerryHolzman it's too hard to cut a hole. next to that outside wall is a public alley, and the front wall is a public sidewalk. and also three floors above. i don't need to add any extra egress as the apartment space already has 2 exits to 2 different common area stairways. at this point i'm just gonna reseal the vent hood and leave it place.
@EdTheHeaterMan who the heck can find any boxes of N95 masks now
really appreciate the help. thanks, neil