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Snowy Pipes

By
Home Inspector with JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC HOI 394

Heating pipes do basically two things; they carry heated water to the radiators and lose heat.  Since the idea is to distribute the heat in the rooms not along the way to them, heating pipes are often insulated to fix this problem.

Asbestos pipe insulationBack many years ago the insulation of choice was asbestos. Asbestos is really a great insulator and has many other desirable characteristics that make it a great additive for many products. Unfortunately it also has one little flaw, it causes lung disease.

Consequently because asbestos is a known health hazard when it's found in a home it is remediated.  This can either be by encapsulation or removal. Removal is by far a more involved and costly process.

When asbestos is professionally removed the area where the material is located is completely seal off. Large industrial HEPA filters are put in place to ventilate the area and capture the loose fibers. The workers and materials must enter and exit through an air lock and shower. Like I said it's an involved process.

asbetos residueEvery bit of material is removed and when all work is complete air samples are taken and analyzed to be sure the area is clean.

There are a minority of individuals who will either through ignorance or stinginess remove asbestos from pipes themselves. They will dispose of the material usually in the trash which is illegal.

Subsequently when inspecting a home and I find white snowy residue on heating pipes it raises a big concern. This tells me that; 1) asbestos insulation was on the pipes at sometime in the past and 2) it was not professionally and safely removed. The area would be considered "dirty", meaning asbestos fibers are in all likelihood floating around in the area.

When seeing suspected asbestos residue there should be a concern that an environmental hazard may be present. In that situation staying out of the area and having it tested would be the best course of action.

 

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Posted by

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

 ASHI Certified Inspector

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Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.

Comments (8)

Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

James, you are right, when you see "fur" on the pipes and Nutsy hasn't been there----you know that there are going to be Asbestos fibers everywhere.  This is especially nasty in crawl spaces with no ground cover and the dirt is full of the stuff.

Aug 24, 2009 03:37 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

You just taught me something new..

Thanks,

Ginger

Aug 24, 2009 04:15 AM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

So what do you do James, assuming it is not Nutsy going bald, when you see furry/snowy pipes to protect your lungs? Are you already wearing a mask? Kate

Aug 24, 2009 06:01 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr James,

I am a health fanatic. When I inspect, I am prepared for the white stuff. Some people think I am perfect. Not true, just very intellegint.

Nutsy

Aug 24, 2009 04:38 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

James, We do not have the old boiler systems down here so rarely do I see this condition. We do have a lot of older properties that used asbestos tape on the ductwork though. Thanks for the heads up...

Helping you live your American dream...

Aug 24, 2009 09:32 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Charlie, You find older homes here with dirty floors in the basement. The stuff just settles in.

Ginger, Glad you learned something.

Kate, No I am not wearing a mask. This stuff was in a finished basement. The mask is a good idea though.

Nutsy, Is that squirrel intelligence or human intelligence?

Michael, I see that stuff up here also. Actually saw the duct wrap the same week as the stuff above.

Aug 24, 2009 10:50 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Wow, imagine how much snow will be on the pipes in January!

Well, that looks like a small fry problem...

Aug 26, 2009 01:26 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Jay, This was the tip or should I say elbow of this iceberg.

Aug 26, 2009 11:20 PM