I have a house that was built in 1909, and have been cleaning up the
unfinished basement/utility room. The cold air return ducts have a paper
covering on them. The paper is very stained and brittle, and looks very
old, but I have no way of knowing when it was put on the ducts, although it
was certainly put on after the ducts were installed (rather than the duct
material itself having some sort of covering on it).

Does anyone know why this might have been done? The only theories we've
come up with so far are either just for esthetic purposes, or possibly for
some sound deadening (although I can't imagine how much good it would have
done).

It's clearly not any sort of insulation, it's just very thin paper - like
someone decided to wall-paper the ducts.

Curious minds want to know...

A. Brown
take out the garbage to email

Very often, this is a thin asbestos fabric. Really common in my area
(Milwaukee) on older houses. Sorry for the bad news...

JK

"A. Brown" wrote in message
. ..
I have a house that was built in 1909, and have been cleaning up the
unfinished basement/utility room. The cold air return ducts have a paper
covering on them. The paper is very stained and brittle, and looks very
old, but I have no way of knowing when it was put on the ducts, although
it
was certainly put on after the ducts were installed (rather than the duct
material itself having some sort of covering on it).

Does anyone know why this might have been done? The only theories we've
come up with so far are either just for esthetic purposes, or possibly for
some sound deadening (although I can't imagine how much good it would have
done).

It's clearly not any sort of insulation, it's just very thin paper - like
someone decided to wall-paper the ducts.

Curious minds want to know...


This is very likely an asbestos covering and should not be disturbed.
You may even want to have the ducts replaced, I would. The costs to have it
removed are well worth it, as it is not worth the health risks having it in
your house create. The costs involved in removing it are cheaper now as
more companies are competing for the work. If removal can't be done, in
some areas you are allowed to seal it and mark as an asbestos product.
Check your local area for your options. I was certified to remove it many
years ago, now I just let the customer know what it is and who to call to
remove it.

Joseph


A. Brown
take out the garbage to email

"A. Brown" wrote in message
. ..
I have a house that was built in 1909, and have been cleaning up the
unfinished basement/utility room. The cold air return ducts have a paper
covering on them. The paper is very stained and brittle, and looks very
old, but I have no way of knowing when it was put on the ducts, although
it
was certainly put on after the ducts were installed (rather than the duct
material itself having some sort of covering on it).

Does anyone know why this might have been done? The only theories we've
come up with so far are either just for esthetic purposes, or possibly for
some sound deadening (although I can't imagine how much good it would have
done).

It's clearly not any sort of insulation, it's just very thin paper - like
someone decided to wall-paper the ducts.

Curious minds want to know...

A. Brown
take out the garbage to email


Old RockWrap...
Asbestoes in nature normally, and if thats the case, not a fun thing to
remove.

"Joseph" wrote in message
This is very likely an asbestos covering and should not be disturbed.
You may even want to have the ducts replaced, I would. The costs to have
it
removed are well worth it, as it is not worth the health risks having it
in
your house create.


Sealing makes sense. Removal is not needed as once the material is sealed,
there is no health risk. It is only the inhalation of fibers when it is
broken up, or cut, or otherwise disturbed that presents a risk. Touching
the stuff will cause no harm at all.

A. Brown

It may be that someone wanted to shut those registers tight. In that
case it would just be paper and you could remove it safetly. I see
people covering grilles they don't want to use with paper fairly often.


Stretch

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in
m:


"Joseph" wrote in message
This is very likely an asbestos covering and should not be
disturbed.
You may even want to have the ducts replaced, I would. The costs to
have it
removed are well worth it, as it is not worth the health risks having
it in
your house create.


Sealing makes sense. Removal is not needed as once the material is
sealed, there is no health risk. It is only the inhalation of fibers
when it is broken up, or cut, or otherwise disturbed that presents a
risk. Touching the stuff will cause no harm at all.



Thanks for all the replies.

There's wrapping on the heating pipes that I'm pretty is asbestos (but in
good condition), so it certainly wouldn't surprise me to hear that this
other stuff may contain asbestos also - it just never occurred to me
because of the thinness. It's certainly no thicker than a piece of typing
paper.(Gee... I guess I should call that "inkjet paper").

stretch wrote:
A. Brown

It may be that someone wanted to shut those registers tight. In that
case it would just be paper and you could remove it safetly. I see
people covering grilles they don't want to use with paper fairly
often.


Stretch

Question to the Op

is the "paper" wrapped around the entire return duct or is it just
covering the return registers, i.e. the grills?

What about the supply ducts? Usually it is the supply ducts that are
insulated.

Mark

"Mark" wrote in news:1112463586.543181.284080
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:


stretch wrote:
A. Brown

It may be that someone wanted to shut those registers tight. In that
case it would just be paper and you could remove it safetly. I see
people covering grilles they don't want to use with paper fairly
often.


Stretch

Question to the Op

is the "paper" wrapped around the entire return duct or is it just
covering the return registers, i.e. the grills?

What about the supply ducts? Usually it is the supply ducts that are
insulated.

Mark



It isn't on the registers at all - it's the ducts going from the registers
to the furnace. Popular opinion seems to be that it's asbestos insulation.

Have a air-conditioning contractor check your air duct system.
http://www.udarrell.com/external_sta..._readings.html - udarrell
--
Recommended Procedures for Proper Duct Sizing of Residential Central Air
Conditioning Systems
http://www.udarrell.com/proper_cfm_b...syste ms.html
========
"A. Brown" wrote in message
...
"Mark" wrote in news:1112463586.543181.284080
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:


stretch wrote:
A. Brown

It may be that someone wanted to shut those registers tight. In that
case it would just be paper and you could remove it safetly. I see
people covering grilles they don't want to use with paper fairly often.
Stretch

Question to the Op
is the "paper" wrapped around the entire return duct or is it just
covering the return registers, i.e. the grills?

What about the supply ducts? Usually it is the supply ducts that are
insulated. Mark

It isn't on the registers at all - it's the ducts going from the registers
to the furnace. Popular opinion seems to be that it's asbestos insulation.

"A. Brown" wrote in message
. ..
I have a house that was built in 1909, and have been cleaning up the
unfinished basement/utility room. The cold air return ducts have a paper
covering on them. The paper is very stained and brittle, and looks very
old, but I have no way of knowing when it was put on the ducts, although
it
was certainly put on after the ducts were installed (rather than the duct
material itself having some sort of covering on it).

Does anyone know why this might have been done? The only theories we've
come up with so far are either just for esthetic purposes, or possibly for
some sound deadening (although I can't imagine how much good it would have
done).

It's clearly not any sort of insulation, it's just very thin paper - like
someone decided to wall-paper the ducts.

Curious minds want to know...

A. Brown
take out the garbage to email

I would, before reaching any conclusions, clip off a small piece and try
burning it. If it burns, it sure isn't asbestos. According to the
responses you have received, it probably is asbestos but you sure wouldn't
want to pay for removal if it isn't. --- SJF