Asbestos in Hot Water Pipes
With the creation of modern plumbing and semi-modern heating, pipes that were used to carry hot water throughout a home or a building became hot water pipes and were really hot. To prevent the heat from dissipating throughout the home and to minimize the chances of burns to people who might accidentally come in contact with the water pipes, these pipes were insulated. As asbestos was the go-to insulator for much of the 20th century, asbestos is found in the hot water pipes of many older structures.
Because the United States armed services, in particular the Navy, were such huge consumers and users of asbestos, anyone on a ship or that dwelled in a military building that was constructed in the first half, at least, of the 20th century has a large chance of having been exposed to asbestos.
Hot water pipes in older homes and buildings, including military barracks, are likely to have been coated with an asbestos material by the manufacturer, covered with an asbestos blanket by the builder, or wrapped in asbestos tape by the home builder or plumber. These are just three of the ways in which asbestos may be present in and around hot water pipes.
As the homes, buildings, and ships with ancient water pipes have aged, they may have required repairs along the way. Some of the structures may be old enough that the repairs took place before the dangers of asbestos were realized. Today, any repairs that need to be made to an older home’s hot water pipes should be performed by a professional and it may be a good idea to have the area around the pipes checked for asbestos fibers.
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For more information on asbestos in hot water pipes, or for any asbestos-related concerns, contact us today at 800-781-3955.
