Pipes behind old radiator, putty/asbestos?

[Alfredo]

So you mean that if it is asbestos-containing material in a non-fixed form, then the landlord shouldn't care?

I haven't written anything about what a landlord should do. I've written what I believe most landlords will do, and that is to let you clean behind the radiator yourself.

But sure, if you complain that the move-out cleaning was poor and have a really service-minded landlord, maybe they'll send someone with a vacuum cleaner.

 

[Spikbjörn]

I have just moved in, so whatever is behind the radiator has nothing to do with me and my cleaning.

Then you should probably complain about the move-out cleaning?

I'm just trying to give you reasons not to worry about asbestos, it seems completely unfounded. Even if, against all odds, there were an asbestos fiber in the dust.

 

[Björne57]

Any experienced "pipe" here? 😊

I've posted about these old pipes behind the radiator before, but now I'm wondering if there are any "pipe" experts with experience from old-time techniques here?

My question is as follows:

Did people used to insulate horizontal pipes behind the radiator with gurmassa/asbestos so that the heat wouldn't go into the wall but instead reach the radiator?
In other words, so heat wouldn't be lost unnecessarily. At least that's what AI says. 😊

I've found horizontal pipes behind the radiator with "something" on them in an older apartment. Most people here think it's old dust, but I don't think it looks that way. It just leads to a lot of speculations back and forth, and that's why I'm wondering if anyone here knows if this "technique" was used.

So, I'm pondering if it could be old gurmassa/asbestos.

Yes, the only sure way is to test it, I know.
But, I still want to ask if there's anyone with experience of this here.

Thanks in advance!

It's not wrong to be cautious. But vacuuming might be a bad idea since the asbestos fiber can go through the vacuum filter if it's small enough. However, if you don't have many such elements, it's probably not a concern.

 

[Matti_75]

What does the pipe look like from underneath? If it's bare on the underside, it's dust. If it's equally thick there, it's insulation.

 

[Zebraponken]

Anyone experienced with plumbing here? 😊

I previously posted about these old pipes behind the radiator, but now I'm wondering if there might be plumbers with experience in old-time techniques here?

My question is as follows:

Did people in the past commonly insulate horizontal pipes behind radiators with gurmassa/asbestos so that the heat wouldn't go into the wall but instead to the radiator itself?
In other words, to avoid unnecessary heat loss. That's what AI says anyway. 😊

In an older apartment, I have found horizontal pipes behind the radiator with "something" on them. Most here think it's old dust, but I don't think it looks like that. There’s just a lot of speculation going back and forth, so I'm wondering if anyone here knows if this "technique" was commonly used.

I'm wondering if it might be old gurmassa/asbestos.

Yes, the only sure way is to test it, I know.
But I still want to ask if anyone with experience in this is here.

Thanks in advance!

Plumber without much knowledge of the good old days here! I don't think it looks like insulation; I've encountered quite a few older setups and haven't come across any that would have been insulated in that way. But if you want to be careful, take a spray bottle and thoroughly wet it before carefully placing it in a bag 😊 it's only dangerous when it starts swirling around!

 

[Korvgrillaren]

I have still given you the answer that they did not consider the action cost-effective (to insulate heat-carrying pipes inside the apartment that would be heated anyway). In deep cellars or outdoors maybe, but doubtful if they would have used asbestos, as there were probably cheaper and better insulating materials concerning the heat coefficient. Asbestos primarily has other properties as far as I know.

Sleep well and worry less about asbestos when cleaning, it is not a problem in home vacuuming (especially not for non-smokers).

I would just like to complement this excellent post. Asbestos in pipe insulation was previously used in pipe elbows in basement corridors and similar places. It was a paste that was smeared on by hand, wrapped with some form of fabric, and the asbestos mass hardened. On straight sections, there was different insulation. If you see old pipes in older houses with unknown insulation and it seems soft on straight sections but hard in pipe bends, assume that it is asbestos in the bends.

I have not encountered houses where asbestos was applied as the pictures show, but if Slottsfrun is worried, she should have the dust tested. Personally, I would sweep it away and dispose of it appropriately.

 

[Slottsfrun]

It's not wrong to be cautious. But vacuuming can be a bad idea because the asbestos fibers can pass through the vacuum cleaner's filter as they can be so small they can get through. But if you don't have many such elements, it's probably not a problem.

Thank you so much for the wise input! That's exactly what I think too. Vacuuming is the worst thing to do if you're unsure and absolutely the worst if it could be asbestos.

Grateful that someone in this thread doesn't ridicule and mock me,
as if I were a complete idiot and less informed. Thank you! ❤️

 

[Slottsfrun]

What does the pipe look like from below? If it's bare on the underside, it's dust. If it's just as thick there, it's insulation.

That was smart thinking! I haven't checked underneath… probably can't see (it's very cramped), but I can try to get in with a finger and feel.

 

[Slottsfrun]

A plumber without too much knowledge of the good old days here! I don't think it looks like insulation; I've come across quite a few older installations and haven't encountered any that would have been insulated that way. But if you want to be cautious, take a spray bottle and wet it thoroughly before carefully putting it in a bag 😊 it's only dangerous when it starts swirling around!

Thank you for the wise input! And for sharing your experience.

Yes, you should definitely wet it if you want to handle it yourself and make it less dusty. The tricky part here is that you can't get a hand in to scrape it off... you can't reach it.

 

[Slottsfrun]

I would just like to complement this excellent post. Asbestos in pipe insulation was used in the past in pipe bends in basement corridors and similar places. It was a paste that was applied by hand, wrapped with some kind of fabric, and the asbestos mixture hardened. On the straight sections, there was other insulation. If you see old pipes in older houses with unknown insulation and it seems soft on the straight sections but hard in the bends, assume it is asbestos in the bends.

I have not encountered houses where asbestos was applied as the pictures show, but if Slottsfrun is concerned, she should have the dust tested. Personally, I would sweep it away and dispose of it properly.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Unfortunately, it is far too cramped to reach and "sweep away". You can't get a hand in, much less a broom. And I don't want to vacuum it; if it is asbestos, that would be the worst approach.

 

[LaT]

Asbestos is not soooo dangerous, especially not if you are exposed to it occasionally. It requires "quite" substantial exposure before the risk of cancer arises. If you've taken the subway in Stockholm, for example, you have/are quite exposed since asbestos was included in brake linings at least until the 80s and the subway is hardly completely decontaminated since then.

Vacuum up the dust, but if you want to feel safer, use a new bag & change the HEPA filter.

 

[Slottsfrun]

Asbestos is not that dangerous, especially not if you're exposed to it just once or twice. It takes "quite" a lot of exposure before the risk of cancer arises.
If you have taken the subway in Stockholm, for example, you have been or are quite exposed since asbestos was part of the brake pads at least until the 1980s, and the subway is hardly completely cleaned of it since then.

Vacuum up the dust, but if you want to feel safer, use a new bag and change the HEPA filter.

Unfortunately, I have been exposed several times before, for example because of workers who created dust in my house earlier.
And broken pipe bends with asbestos in my boiler room. But well, just try to "forget" and move on. However, I do not want to expose myself to even more exposure if I can avoid it.

 

[LaT]

Unfortunately, I have been exposed several times before, partly because of craftsmen who created dust in my house earlier. And broken pipe bends with asbestos in my boiler room. But, just trying to "forget" and move on. However, I don't want to expose myself to even more exposure if I can avoid it.

Without diminishing the risk, in most cases, they talk about years of exposure. But as mentioned, one should reasonably minimize the risk of further exposure.

 

[Slottsfrun]

Without downplaying the risk, in most cases we are talking about years of exposure.
But as mentioned, reasonable measures should be taken to minimize the risk of further exposure.

Yes, it seems wise not to take in more if it can be avoided.

 

[Matti_75]

That was smart thinking! I haven't checked underneath… probably can't see (it's very tight), but I can try to reach in with a finger and feel.

Can't you take a photo to see the pipe?