Do I Have Asbestos In My Attic

Asbestos can be found in the insulation used in walls attics the materials around plumbing and pipes electrical wiring as well as on heating and air conditioning units.

Do i have asbestos in my attic. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung diseases such as asbestosis lung cancer or mesothelioma. As the asbestos ages the fibers can deteriorate sending them through the ventilation system since asbestos insulation in an attic is rarely covered. Vermiculite insulation which may contain the tremolite types of asbestos is a big enough topic that i ll write a whole article about it later. However it is advisable to consult a professional.

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. You can get an asbestos testing kit from your local convenience store for about 50. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. 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 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. 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. In case you suspect that your wall of attic insulation has the visual aspects that we have explained you can verify if they have asbestos by using a diy asbestos testing kit. Removing asbestos insulation is very important to do for your safety and the safety of your loved ones.

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. 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. If you notice that you have insulation that is falling apart in your building have a professional inspect for asbestos. If you see white tape on your ducts as shown in the photo above vermiculite insulation in your attic as shown below it s probably not causing a problem as long as it s undisturbed.

Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. Risk of exposure to asbestos if you have vermiculite insulation. Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country. 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.

There exist a good many misconceptions about attic insulation and asbestos.