How Do You Know If Your Attic Insulation Has Asbestos

Vermiculite insulation granules keep out of contaminated areas.

How do you know if your attic insulation has asbestos. Therefore if you have asbestos insulation you need to properly identify it and have it safely removed from your house. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you. However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos. Another indicator is the referenced particles also have an accordion like look or texture.

You can get an asbestos testing kit from your local convenience store for about 50. Loose fill insulation 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. However it is advisable to consult a professional. This procedure is based on the mineral s property to float when placed in water in contrast with asbestos containing materials which sink.

Use caulk or spray foam around seams light fixtures fans and switches as well as plumbing pipes or. Seal off vermiculite insulation. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself. Finally you may have attic insulation containing asbestos if it lies flat in the joist cavities and does not puff up like snow.

Make sure any area containing vermiculite insulation is sealed off from the interior of your home. If you re insulation is the batt style insulation as the loose fill insulation has the higher risk as it s loosely poured into wall or joist cavities. You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring. 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.

If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it. Don t store anything in attics insulated with vermiculite and make the area is off limits. One of the most common tests which can reveal the existence of vermiculite in attic insulation is the cincinnati method. 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.

Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country. The first thing that you need to do is determine exactly when your home was constructed. Step 1 determine the age of your house. 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 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. Here s how to tell if your home contains asbestos insulation and what to do about it.