asbestos water tank

[ruthann58]

have just had a survey on a house done which my son is hoping to buy it says that" there is a cold water storage tank that is made from asbestos and he needs to seek advice" any body know how this will be dealt with

[Heidihi1301]

the cold water tank should ideally be replaced. is this in the loft. removal can and will be very costly but it is recommended that the work be carried out and should be considered as an item for negotiation.

there is loads of info on asbestos and effects of asbestos on internet sites. contamination of water supply will be thebbiggest concern as asbestos breaks down and lets face it you dont want to drink that.

disposal of asbestos is dear, and highly complex. I would think there will be no change out of �1500 when the new tank is installed.

dont just go ahead with the purchase. speak to a plumbing specialist.

[catqueries]

Can you change the tank but leave the old one is it in the loft? As long as there is no damage to the tank it is better left alone. Don't be tempted to break it up to remove it.

It could be removed whole and your local council will be able to tell you where to dispose of it safely. I was able to dispose of some asbestos via my council by wrapping it in double plastic , and placing in a special skip, wear gloves and a mask that you can buy from a DIY store when moving it.

There are different types of asbestos and still a lot of it about in houses, get some facts and don't be scared of it, it may not cost you a lot of money to dispose of it, maybe just a little preparation and investigation.

Your council will also most likely have a specialist in asbestos removal who you can consult with.

Private companies can get involved but they will be expensive.

Finally are you certain it is asbestos this can only be proven by looking under a microscope at fibres.

[stuelwell]

an asbestos water tank seems strange it was normaly used for lagging purposes (insulation)

[buildersmate]

They do exist, Stu.
I'd agree with the top advice - there's no reason to remove it unless it is in poor condition.
Also don't lose sight of the fact that it is inhaled asbestos dust that causes the problem - ingested asbestos does not, because it's the fibres that can affect the lining of the lungs. Many water pipes were (and hence still are) made from asbestos concrete prior to plastic.
Doesn't stop you making an unholy fuss about it to get some money off the deal though!!

[rosepoo]

My dad is 79 and has work in the building trade his whole life. He recently had to have a tumour remove from his lung which was not asbestos related but was complicated by all the asbestos scarring to his lungs from years of working with it. I've read that it can take 50 years for the asbestos to cause complicaations, it's just not worth dealing with. Either don't buy the place or buy it and get prfessionals to get rid of the tank.