Do Not Try to Clean Asbestos Wrapped Air Ducts.

I saw these air ducts this week that a local competitor had cleaned twice. These air ducts should never have been touched. Vibration, agitation or blasting with air tools could cause asbestos tape fibers to become airborne.
The company that did it should have known better and walked away.

[@flashstar99]

If only the insides of the ducts were cleaned, I don't see how the asbestos tape on the outside would have gotten agitated? These ducts typically fit over each other (the connecting portions are about 2 inches deep), then the connections are screwed together. The tape here appears to have been only on the outside.

[@planetduct6663]

EPA guidelines state that the ducts should not be exposed to extreme vibration or air flow. Air duct cleaning tools can cause both extreme vibration and airflow.
Also many air ducts have damage and gaps due to poor construction that allow direct contact of the agitation devices directly to the tape fibers.
Running pneumatic agitation whips and rotary brushes inside of air ducts causes vibration
We have also found asbestos tape inside return ducts and plenums, directly in the airflow of the system.
It is not worth making a little money to endanger my clients or my staff