I found a white vent pipe (3\”) in my mother\’s house (built in 40\’s). I was told it was aesbestos.
I definitely is metal (it pings when I tap it), but it looks like it was painted white with a flat white paint. It connects from the water closet vent, about 3′ off the floor and extends through to the roof vent. The drain/vent pipe for the water closet is 3″ cast iron w/ a 4″ closet flange.
A handyman told me, since I was working on that “stack”, that the city would make me replace that “white” pipe since it was not in code. But when I read the UPC, I could not find anywhere where it said that aesbestos drain pipe was prohibited. I did find some suggestions on how to seal it w/o replacing it. Also found some material suggesting that there is nothing wrong w/ it (not like the aesbestos dust that comes from auto car brakes..)
Does this sound like an aesbestos pipe? If so, does the UPC prohibit it? (I found nothing in the local code.)
Now that answers 4-7 are in, and I actually talked to to 5 city inspectors/supervisors (they did not visit my mom’s house)…the concensus is that it is just a painted pipe…thx everyone!!
DIY Metal Casting
Posted in Do It Yourself (DIY)
9 Responses to “I found a white vent pipe (3\”) in my mother\’s house (built in 40\’s). I was told it was aesbestos.”
I would change it, cause, I think its a asbestos pipe with lead paint or something.That’s highly toxic and was used widely during the 1940′s onwards.I think.
id seal it off and forget about it….Chances are its not asbestos.
I doubt it is aesbestos there would have been no reason to put it on a drain/vent pipe, it could be lead based paint. I would replace it to be on the safe side.
Asbestos is not a metal and it can’t be painted on anything. The guy that told you it is illegal may be after some extra money to remove it. If you are in doubt about it’s legality I would have a city inspector come in and examine it to determine if it warrants removal.
I don’t believe it’s asbestos, its probably cast iron. Asbestos would have been the insulation wrapped around it and that’s if it was a heat pipe. Asbestos is found in some older shingles. It was used as glue under vinyl tiles, usually the tiles that had this glue were 9″ x 9″. I would contact your local building inspector and have them tell you what you can do.
Good luck
Moskie257
OK, first off, there’s no need to contact a city inspector. Once you let them in the front door, they’ve got carte-blanche to nail you for every safety hazard they come across (like a loose banister, upside down switch, etc.).
Second, if it was to code when it was installed, you’re grandfathered and you’re fine. Think of those old houses that still have cloth covered electric wiring… Nobody makes them update all of the wiring just because the code/standards have changed.
Next, the actual pipe. If it’s got a coating on it that looks like creamy white padding (or paper mache), then it could be asbestos. This would make you think that the pipe was wrapped to be insulated. I don’t see why they would have wrapped a stack-pipe though.
My guess is that it’s just been painted. If it was painted before 1978, it’s lead based paint. Personally, I’d whip out some new latex paint and re-paint the pipe just in case.
As for direct answers to your questions…
No, from what you described, it doesn’t sound like there’s any asbestos on/in that pipe.
No, the local code doesn’t prohibit it in your house even if it is asbestos. If you replaced it, it would be against code, but while it’s existing, it will be evaluated using the code from when it was installed.
Don’t call a city inspector. You’re just asking for trouble. If you’re really worried about it, call two or three plumbers to come out, give you an opinion, and give you a price on how much it will cost to replace. (Find plumbers who will give you a free estimate, make sure they say it’s free or else they’ll probably charge you to come out).
It is not asbestos. Older homes might have some pipe insulation that is asbestos, but if it’s just a pipe with paint on it, don’t worry about it. It could be lead paint, but if you are not disturbing it, it won’t harm you (same goes for asbestos). The code can’t make you “update” anything unless you are remodeling to a point where you need a building permit. I wouldn’t tell anyone about it unless you are changing it for some reason.
If it “pings” you have a metal pipe with paint on it.
Asbestos would give you a ‘dull thud’, as its a thick chalky material, that they use for Geothermal barriers, and wrapped with a tape like barrier that will usually fail in 20 years or so, unless painted and not disturbed.
If that is a “vent pipe”, it may be used to draw air into the water closet, so that you dont get gas buildup, (fumes), and the air is needed to send the fumes up the exhaust chimney that should be on top of your hot water tank, or boiler….(its bringing fresh air in, so that the boiler wont use oxygen from the house and you wont die of exhaust fumes that are not being properly vented out)…
I wish you well..
Jesse
hey if it pings and sounds like metal then it is probably painted metal if it was asbestos it would be more of a thump than a ping white painted metal was not unusual back then when they used asbestos it was almost always a asbestos like tape wrapped around the pipe.