house boilers have asbesto in them??

[D123456A]

Hiya,

This is my first posting so please help me out :)

My parents will be receiving a warm front grant, they are going to take out the water tank and fit a combi boiler. My parents have a Maxi Morocco 20 boiler. The fitter - who was very rude to me!! said that they can't fit the new boiler where the old boiler is because of asbesto in the boiler... I really need you advice on "does the maxol morocco 20 have asbestos?" My parents don't really want 2 boilers (one in the downstairs toilet and one in the upstairs bathroom) in the house and are happy to pay for the old one to be removed if there is asbestos in it but the fitter then went on about how difficult and how much work it will be to put a comi where the old boiler is....(have no idea why, is it because it will be more work?).

I've had a look on the net, but no joy. Could really do with some advice.

Many thanks in advance.

[Buenchico]

The risk from asbestos relates to fibres entering your lungs. You could live in a house, all of your life, with asbestos in the wall cavities and ceilings without any problems, as long as nobody drilled into (or otherwise abraded) the asbestos panels (which would release fibres into the air).

I can think of no reason why a boiler would have asbestos inside it and, even if it did, the fibres couldn't become airborne. Thus, it seems reasonable to assume that the fitter is either referring to an asbestos jacket around the boiler or the presence of asbestos in the area immediately surrounding it. (i.e. it's unlikely that the boiler itself actually 'contains' asbestos but there could be asbestos in the surrounding area).

You need to seek further information about the risks which the fitter believes he's identified. Then look under 'Asbestos Removal', in Yellow Pages to seek a (free) quote for the removal of the jacket (or whatever else is concerning the fitter).

Chris

[buildersmate]

The asbestos, if it exists in there, will be to thermally insulate the firebox.

[gasman]

Yes alot of the older boilers had asbestos lined combustion chambers inside them, aswell as asbestos cement single wall flues fitted to them. So get it checked out before it is too late. You're fitter sounds like he knows the score and you should take his advice.

[gasman]

As to whether it will be more work we cannot say as we need to survey the property but i suspect that it will be more work as the new boiler will be a condensing type boiler and hence will need a condensate pipe fitting and run to a suitable drain off point such as an outside gully or soil pipe etc.. So if there is not a drain near the old boiler then yes it is more work.