Asbestos In Air Conditioning Units
It can sometimes seem like anywhere you look in your pre-2000s home, asbestos is present in some shape or form – be it your vinyl, flooring, walls, or even your roof. So, it’s only normal to ask whether asbestos could be present in an old air conditioning unit you haven’t quite got around to updating in your home. Find this information and more below to ensure you’re well-informed about future home or business renovations.
Is There Asbestos In Air Conditioning Units In New Zealand?
Asbestos isn’t common in air conditioning units in New Zealand. While WorkSafe states that air conditioning ducts might contain asbestos gaskets and linings, most air conditioning units didn’t become commonplace in New Zealand until after asbestos was identified as a health hazard.
If you have an old air conditioning unit in your home, asbestos isn’t a hazard you often need to worry about. However, it can still be worth looking at your replacement options for the following reasons:
Harmful bacteria and toxins build up over long periods
Ozone-depleting refrigerants
Outdated and faulty parts
High electricity bills
Expensive repair costs
Do Air Conditioning Units Contain Asbestos?
Air conditioning units here in Aotearoa New Zealand might rarely contain asbestos, but that doesn’t mean they are asbestos-free in other parts of the world. Countries that started using air conditioning units before us frequently manufactured them with asbestos.
Asbestos textile gussets in ducting systems
Exterior and interior acoustic and thermal insulation
Electric reheat unit insulation
Sealants and mastics in ducting joints
Most homeowners with old air conditioning units in countries like the United States might discover that their units have asbestos in the joints between the asbestos docks, duct tape, and insulates. Due to the age of the units, those that contain asbestos will likely be reaching the end of their usable life. At this point, the asbestos materials are potentially wearing out, releasing dangerous asbestos fibers into the air.
What to Look For
Even though your air conditioning unit likely doesn’t contain asbestos, there’s still no harm in knowing what to look for. If you travel to another country or relocate, you can be well informed about how asbestos was used.
Typically, asbestos insulation in air conditioning ducts was available in four different forms:
A paper-like sheath
Asbestos rope contained within the heater bank
Chalky plaster
Tape around metal piping and ducts
Asbestos millboard around heater banks inside the ductwork
Asbestos testing is the best way to confirm the presence of asbestos – be it in your air conditioning unit or elsewhere in your home.
Where Else Is Asbestos Present In Your Home?
Most people don’t think about asbestos when they start renovations. Instead, they’re more concerned with the changes they’ll make to their properties to ensure they’re functional for their needs.
However, it can be worth thinking about asbestos testing before renovations get underway, especially when asbestos can be found in some of the following locations and materials:
Roofing and siding – some shingles may contain asbestos cement
Insulation – houses built between 1930-1950 may contain asbestos in the insulation
Textured paint
Older-style gas-fired fireplaces
Vinyl floor tiles and linoleum
Hot water and steam pipes (asbestos material coating, blanket, or tape)
Wall patching compounds
Ceiling joints
Stove-top pads
Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves (asbestos paper, cement sheets, and millboard)
Oil and coal furnaces and wood burners (door gaskets may contain asbestos insulation) And more…
Material brands like Fibrolite and Hardiplank
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos In Your Home
If you suspect that your home contains asbestos, don’t panic. Asbestos is most harmful in its friable form, which means you and your family might only be at risk of exposure if the asbestos-containing materials in question have been damaged.
Whether you want peace of mind, have damaged asbestos materials, or want asbestos materials to be removed before renovating your home, contact asbestos removal experts. They can visit your home, provide asbestos testing to identify where asbestos is present and provide you with options for a plan of attack.
Typically, you have three choices regarding the identification of asbestos:
Leave it as it is in its undamaged form, as long as it’s in excellent condition.
Encapsulate it – this can involve covering it up with another building material
Remove it – asbestos removal experts will remove asbestos-containing materials safely before disposing of the resultant waste appropriately
The best option can typically depend on your unique circumstances. For example, you might choose to cover asbestos lino with wooden boards and place new vinyl on top. You might also decide to encapsulate popcorn ceilings rather than remove them.
Hire the Experts for Asbestos Removal
Whether you suspect asbestos is present in your home or are about to renovate, asbestos testing can be crucial. Contact Chemcare today to learn about asbestos testing and removal to keep you and your household occupants safe during home alterations.