HELP! To remove this furnace, or not to remove?

[PharmaCan]

Okay free estimate guy wants to charge $3000. says he has to tear open the ceilings to remove all asbestos. Keeping fingers crossed that homeowners insurance will cover at least 50%

Homeowner's insurance isn't going to pay squat. They don't cover upgrades to your house and removing the asbestos is, essentially, an upgrade. If there were a fire or a flood in that room, then they would cover the asbestos removal because it would be a necessary part of the repairs. They may cover the removal, but I doubt it. ...and they may just cancel your policy when they learn about the asbestos because they would be liable if someone got sick because of the asbestos.

How long have you owned this property? A dangerous asbestos situation is something that should have been disclosed to you at the time of the purchase. You'd have better luck going after the previous owner or the Realtor. Did you have the house inspected by a professional house inspector? If so, the condition should have been noted on the inspection report. If it wasn't, the inspector could also be liable.

PC

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Defending stupid just makes you look stupid. I may be an asshole, but at least I'm not a stupid asshole.

BTW - I've been in the construction business for 40+ years...

If you haven't managed to retire after "40+ years", you're probably not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I couldn't care less what experience the guy has unless the subject is your experience.

 

[TheMintMan]

Living in L.A. for your entire life will most likely cause some form of cancer with all the pollution. Does that mean that everyone in L.A. is an idiot? No. Some of us choose to take certain risks in life because without such risk, we are doomed to mediocrity. Following what's PC until the day you die is like playing a game of Lemmings (commodore 64), only...you're one of the lemmings. Not my cup of tea. We're all gonna die some day brother, the sooner you get over that, the smoother your transition will be.

Defending stupid just makes you look stupid. I may be an asshole, but at least I'm not a stupid asshole.

BTW - I've been in the construction business for 40+ years...

'Stupid'...'Asshole'...'Idiot'... yeah, I'm sure you're a great guy in real life though.

Your negativity will be your own demise...not mine. The superior man has no room for anger in his life.

BTW - Why are you still arguing? I thought you were "out"...

 

[MrBomDiggitty]

Homeowner's insurance isn't going to pay squat. They don't cover upgrades to your house and removing the asbestos is, essentially, an upgrade. If there were a fire or a flood in that room, then they would cover the asbestos removal because it would be a necessary part of the repairs. They may cover the removal, but I doubt it. ...and they may just cancel your policy when they learn about the asbestos because they would be liable if someone got sick because of the asbestos.

How long have you owned this property? A dangerous asbestos situation is something that should have been disclosed to you at the time of the purchase. You'd have better luck going after the previous owner or the Realtor. Did you have the house inspected by a professional house inspector? If so, the condition should have been noted on the inspection report. If it wasn't, the inspector could also be liable.

PC

We have had this property for 22+ years... we were told upon move-in that there was no asbestos. After using the furnace during winter months and noticing headaches we just stopped using it. The guy over the phone suggested there might be a methane leak from a cracked... uh, blower... I think he said. I explained to him we hadn't used the unit in over 10 years and he said that was a good thing. Other than that, he is convinced that homeowners won't cover it unless there was a flood/fire, as someone else stated here.

How big of a flood/fire are we talking about?

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

asbestos-abatement.com has some info you might find interesting. Be warned it's the abatement industry (lobby) so they're gonna give their side heavy. Many links to inform what needs to be done and discouraging homeowners from doing it themselves. There are links that apparently have state-specific info on the subject.

 

[RockyMountainHi]

1 hammer - properly applied to almost any water pipe can cause a flood.

Let's be careful out there!

 

[EcoNepenthe]

Personally, I would do it myself. Wear a mask to protect from dust, etc. Have a fan to exhaust dust, etc out of work area.
1. turn off gas and disconnect line from furnace. Pics 1 & 2 bottom left hand corner.
2. ID thin black wire just left of electrical outlet. Probably to thermostat control...if so, and furnace is disconnected from electricity...cut and tape.
3. Using contractor trash bags...remove all duct work, place in double bags.
4. Once all duct is removed...carefully wiggle furnace out of space. Examine for approach to dismantle...if easy enough (though dirty, dusty work is never easy) dismantle and place in double bags.
What's left....clean up room, close of vents, use exhaust vent for venting heat and odor.
Install grow room.
Yeah, I may make it sound easy....but, if you cannot afford to hire pros, and need to get the job done...don't be surprised at what the DIYfer is capable of doing.
Just take your time, take your time and you'll be saying.... damn, that wasn't soooo bad.

Stay safe,
Success w/your grow room,
Eco

Watch em grow!!!

 

[squirrelfooker]

Have an expert verify you have asbestos. If not remove the furnace yourself, or pay an A/C guy $100 to do it as a side job. It should take less than an hour. Call a scrap man to pick it up for free. If it is asbestos I would have all of it in your house removed professionally, or you need a fully taped up suit and respirator. Your local hazardous waste place will be able to provide special bags for it, and will be able to dispose of it.

 

[Jnugg]

Let' see.....

1)You own the house

2)You and yor loved one(s) live in this house

3)Asbestos is a real health hazzard and is not something to be messed with.

4)Your house is an investment

5)your lives are priceless and can not be replaced



Now...instead of calling buisnesses that remove asbestos and asking them if your home owners insurance will cover it,just call the right people ad find out if it will or won't.If they will great,if not cool just pay out of pocket.You should be able to get atleast a 1/4 pound from 1x 400w HPS and using a 1000w HPS I would expect no less then 1 pound per harvest and these aren't even efficient grows,only coming in at .28 and .44 gpw. and well if it turns out you it ain't no hassle you should be able to get 6-8+ ounces under a 400 and 1.5-2 pounds under a 1000w HID so after 1 or more grows the removal of the asbestos has paid for it self.

Be smart and do what you know is right.

 

[grow nerd]

Sounds like pretty solid wisdom/advice, Jnugg.

 

[JJScorpio]

Thats nothing more than a forced air natural gas/propane furnace. I don't know how asbestos got involved in this.... Years ago they used to wrap the hot air ducts with an asbestos insulation but that looks like nothing more than white tape.

All you have to do is turn off the gas, turn off the power, unhook the power line and the gas line and lift it out. It weighs about sixty pounds. The duct work just slides together in two foot pieces with a couple self tapping screws holding each section together... Leave the chimney to vent the heat out of....

 

[MrBomDiggitty]

you know, I think you might be right JJscorpio... I talked with some guy who is gonna come through tomorrow and says he can remove it in less than 2 hrs... no asbestos mumbo jumbo. I think the other guy figured I'd pay $3000 for a $300 job for some reason.

 

[MrBomDiggitty]

Nope, I was wrong. This guy said $3k as well, but that includes a new furnace. He says its definately asbestos. Need to find some low priced abatement guys in my area.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Thats nothing more than a forced air natural gas/propane furnace. I don't know how asbestos got involved in this....

Most likely the furnace there now is new. It's most likely the ducting/insulation in the wall that's the issue.

 

[MrBomDiggitty]

Most likely the furnace there now is new. It's most likely the ducting/insulation in the wall that's the issue.

exactomundo