polystyrene loft insulation

Since a neighbour discovered that this insulation eats into electric wiring I have cleared 2 lofts of the stuff, smallish loose bits rather like that used in packing. Anyway, having cleared said lofts with broom/garden vac on suck and blow/dustpan and brush etc.. I'm looking for a decent way of vacuuming the nasty stuff. Hire shops cant help. I wondered if anyone here might have an idea? Convert the garden vac?

To give an idea of volume. one attic filled 34 wheeliebin bags so rigging a suction hose that empties thro the loft hatch into a bin in the hall below would be perfect. Otherwise its back to 120 degree pain for the next loft (in 3 weeks time)

Thanks

Peter

Reply to
Peter
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When I cleaned the filthy loose-lay insulation from my loft last year I bought a huge roll of 500 gauge polythene tubing which i could cut to length, tie up one end with string and hang down from the loft hatch. I could then keep scooping up the debris with a dustpan and pour it in without making a mess of the rest of the house. When full, I just tied up the other end and folded the sausage into my car to take to the tip and cut a new length to start again. Muchly recommended by the wife for keeping the house clean :)

Franko.

Reply to
Franko

It was polystyrene?

Hard to imagine that being used. Are you sure it wasn't vermiculite, a safely inert, natural mica type of earth?

Reply to
Weatherlawyer

Two possible solutions;

Shred the polystyrene to reduce the volume. This means the stuff has to go through the vac turbine - a garden vac does just that - its a 'dirty fan' vacuum.

Litter Vacs operate on this principle.

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you could fit a hose in place of the bag on your garden vac, it should work - you would still need a bag on the end of the hose though. It could be a large bag.

Plan 'B'. Use a vacuum cleaner with an interceptor tank. This is simply a large container fitted between the vacuum cleaner and the cleaning nozzle.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

Yup, had to clean the wiring where it was eating through, bits stuck all the way along. Mind you it had taken 30 years to chew thro the outer cable sheath. Rewiring was necessary of course. So far 2 houses, same street same builder same insulation.

Peter

Reply to
Peter

Great idea, polystyrene sausages here I come. (mind you, would still love a vacuum on a stick with an outlet into the sausage) Thanks

Peter

Reply to
Peter

The polystyrene should be bonded using pva glue and not be loose. Then the plasticisers in the pvc cause the polystyrene to shrink which remove the contact and stops the plasticiser being absorbed by the polystyrene. Polystyrene doesn't eat away pvc but it can make it brittle as it removes the plasticisers.

Reply to
dennis

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Reply to
dennis

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with the big polythene sausage, and a chip collector like blower. Stick the blower on the fill side of the lid, stick the blowers filter bag on the exit side, and get a long length of 4" hose to connect to the blower.

Reply to
John Rumm

In message , Franko writes

This is an unpleasant job I need to get done too, the sausage idea is excellent, where did you get the polythene tube?

Reply to
bof

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have no connection with this company)

Reply to
Frank Erskine

Aaaargh! I hate e-commerce sites that don't have prices. It always reminds me of the find-out-what-the-customer-can-afford to pay philosophy of double-glazing salesmen and the like.

Andrew

Reply to
Andrew May

I bought it from

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me about £45 when I did mine - money well spent !

Reply to
Franko

In message , Franko writes

Thanks Franko and Frank too, sadly I have no excuse to avoid the job now :-(

Reply to
bof

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> used with the big polythene sausage, and a chip collector like blower.

That's exactly what an interceptor tank uses for a lid.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

It was very popular for many applications particularly roofs.

I bought several very large bags from the factory and gave one to my neighbour. She put it in her lounge. Her 10 year old daughter came home from school, hooted with delight and took a run and jumped onto the bag.

It took about 2 years before they eventually cleared the stuff from the house. :))

Reply to
EricP

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>>> used with the big polythene sausage, and a chip collector like blower.

yup, except I was suggesting filling a bag with the stuff and not a dustbin. Since the bag is non rigid it can not be on the suction side of the blower. So its not being used as an interceptor in this case, more a dirty fan vacuum on steroids.

Reply to
John Rumm

(And I've found a source of biodegrable bags for the kitchen compost bin, now that Sainsers have stopped selling them!)

Reply to
Huge

Tesco carriers are biodegradable now, and are free (or an oppportunity cost of 1 clubcard point)

Owain

Reply to
Owain

And an extra 50p's worth of diesel to get there...

Reply to
Huge

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