Do I Have Asbestos In My Attic
While you can hire a trained professional to test your attic for asbestos this may be expensive and depending on the methods used might give you erroneous results.
Do i have asbestos in my attic. If your home was built before 1990 and you have vermiculite insulation or if your house was built prior to 1970 it s likely that you have some form of asbestos in your attic or elsewhere. If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos. Use caulk or spray foam around seams light fixtures fans and switches as well as plumbing pipes or. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.
If you reside in a home that was built or remodeled prior to 1990 the possibility exists that you may have attic insulation that contains asbestos. Seal off vermiculite insulation. In order to protect the safety and health of your loved ones you need to familiarize yourself with basic facts and factors associated with the dangers of asbestos attic insulation. Don t store anything in attics insulated with vermiculite and make the area is off limits.
Make sure any area containing vermiculite insulation is sealed off from the interior of your home. There exist a good many misconceptions about attic insulation and asbestos. The unfortunate side effects of exposure to asbestos include things as benign as a skin irritation to conditions as severe as lung cancer. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
Risk of exposure to asbestos if you have vermiculite insulation. If you have vermiculite insulation in your attic do not store boxes there let children play in the area or try to remove the insulation yourself. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung diseases such as asbestosis lung cancer or mesothelioma. Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country.
There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. Asbestos attic insulation may be one of the worst possible kinds to have in a home these days. Asbestos attic insulation is common in older homes as asbestos was inexpensive and an effective insulation.