Asbestos around HVAC duct?
I have this duct (HVAC i think?) in my basement:
and several people have told me (my realtor, inspector, contractors, etc...) that they suspect is asbestos. I can't remember if this crack (at the end of the video) has always been there or if it's newly formed.
Is this a safety hazard? Who should I contact for stuff like this?
Regardless, even if not a safety hazard, a crack like that in the duct probably means the HVAC is going to leak from there? It's hard to tell -- and I don't want to mess with it -- if there's an inner duct inside of the outer one.
Comments
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you'd have to have it tested, but it looks like the type of asbestos paper that was wrapped on ducts.
it looks like someone took the connection of the duct to the register box apart and didn't out the s or drive cleats that make the connection between the 2 pieces back. if that is asbestos paper, it would be nearly impossible to fix the connection without disturbing it.
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Is the register box the part by the drop ceiling?
I had a remodeling contractor over yesterday and he was messing around with the drop ceiling (he was trying to identify if a wall on the first floor is load bearing). I'm not sure if that's what caused the crack.
I'm a bit worried about asbestos fiber floating in the air of my house now…0 -
the register box is the part in the wall or floor that the register mounts to. since the parts where the cleats would be are painted i think they have been missing for a long time.
It looks like someone may have tried to wrap something over the asbestos.
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I took a couple more pics and attached it here. I'm quite confused what is happening here… It looks like the part that goes into the drop ceiling converges. I want to see what happens inside the ceiling, but I'm scared if I push up on the drop ceiling it might disturb the asbestos?
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ahhh registers - yes I know what those are. I thought you were referring to something that was visible in the video in the OP, which didn't have register. See my latest comment above. I actually have no clue what is happening here. I want to find out but don't want to mess with the drop ceiling. Maybe I can put on an N95 and check?
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take out an adjacent tile and look up over the ceiling.
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that texture looks a lot like asbestos duct wrap.
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Yeah, that matches what people have told me when they saw it in person…. there's no texture on the converging section that goes into the drop ceiling. Idk why
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To me it looks too new and too good to be Asbestos which it would have to have been installed prior to the early 80s.
There are other materials like insulating cement that look like asbestos (you can't tell them apart).
I would look at any other exposed ducts and see what they look like.
I don't see anything friable so I wouldn't be too concerned. Exposed asbestos will do nothing if not disturbed and not broken, but you can always have it checked.
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I gently pushed up on one and it's hard to displace it. Lots of dust in there and what looks like insulation above the tiles. I wonder if the insulation on top of the drop ceiling also has asbestos. I was able to see that the converging part does seem to turn into some kind of duct with a rectangular cross sectional area after it enters the drop ceiling.
In this pic, you can see the textured part stops just to the right of the converging duct. To the left of it is more smooth. You think to the left of it is some kind of smooth asbestos duct wrap or could it just be paint? Idk why they would paint a duct white…
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I think the fitting is just steel with several coats of paint and maybe some mastic or asbestos paste at the joint.
Might have to keep trying tiles until one will lift easily then look at what is going on above the ceiling. the insulation above the ceiling is probably fiberglass or rockwool. some ceiling tiles had asbestos too but i can't guess the age of those.
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Any clue what they'd paint it though if it's indeed paint? Is it to match the color of the asbestos wrap?
Right above this space is the kitchen, but the vents in the kitchen come from elsewhere.I suspect this duct goes to the 2nd floor bedroom above the kitchen. I have soffits in the kitchen, and I suspect the soffit is hiding this duct. I'm getting an endoscope from the library to take a look. That's a separate issue from the asbestos though.
I'm planning on calling around tomorrow to see if someone can do an asbestos inspection and possible abatement. I don't think an HVAC person will want to do this work so I probably need some asbestos specialist
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the asbestos also appears to be painted. it is probably so it isn't a dirty gray metal object sticking out below the ceiling.
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Without samples taken and analyzed we can only guess.
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but i would be surprised if it wasn't.
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Yeah I'm getting a local asbestos person to come check it out ASAP. I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and temps just dropped this week and I have to turn on my HVAC again — it's been off since early May (I don't have AC).
Just a bit anxious about all this. I might put my HEPA air purifier in that room in the meantime.
In the converging duct, I can't tell if it's a crack in the metal or if it's a crack in some kind of wrap, and I'm too scared to mess with it. If it's a crack in the metal, then it should be obvious when the HVAC is on because I should feel heat coming out of there. If it's a crack int he wrap, then I shouldn't feel heat.0 -
You're referring to the textured part right, and not the converging duct that goes into the drop ceiling (the part with the crack)?
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yes, the textured part although there may be a acm sealing the transition between the round duct and the fitting too(although unlikely):
This part is missing the cleats that join the edges of the 2 pieces of sheetmetal together:
Stadium hardware would have the cleats and could explain it to you but with the suspected acm on the duct moving it around wouldn't be the best of ideas.
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that material looks to be pretty well glued together with paint so i wouldn't be super concerned about it as an immediate issue.
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Oh wait… so it's not a crack actually but the interface between 2 pieces and it's just missing a fitting? THat makes more sense
Are you from the area btw. I'm surprised you know Stadium Hardware? They're a local hardware store in Ann Arbor and the employees there are great.0 -
If it is asbestos it appears to be very well sealed as long as you’re not disturbing it not an issue.
If you have this concern why did you wait until heating season you had all summer!
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I live near Packard and Stdium.
It should be connected with something like this:
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Oh because I saw the "crack" and thought it was asbestos falling apart. I didn't notice that until yesterday.
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Oh nice. We're neighbors.
I think I understand what cleats are and see what you mean. I think my premise that something was cracked is wrong, and this is just 2 ducts that are not securely fastened together. I'm trying to get someone to come in tomorrow or Friday to take a look. Do you by any chance have recommendations?0 -
Al Walters in Ypsi was good for hvac 25 years ago when they installed my furnace. I don't know about asbestos abatement. They or Stadium may be able to recommend someone to check out for the asbestos.
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