Recommendations To Help You Through Home Asbestos Testing And Abatement

Although you can't tell what materials inside your home contain asbestos, it is important to decipher its presence so you can properly treat and remove it to protect your family. Protection against asbestos exposure is essential, as asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and other health risks. Here are some recommendations that you can use to guide you through the process to inspect and eliminate asbestos inside your home.

Evaluate Your Home

There are several different times when you should be concerned about asbestos within your home. Normally when asbestos fibers are used in materials and the construction of your home, they are safe and pose no threat to your health because they are encapsulated within the materials they have been used to form. However, when these materials begin to break down, crumble apart, or are cut open when you complete home renovations, this puts the asbestos fibers into the air. So, anytime you have surfaces in your home that can potentially contain asbestos, take notice and take care.

Watch out for indications of asbestos, which starts with knowing the age of your home and its interior materials. Asbestos was used mainly in the 1960s and 1970s when its use peaked, but it was first used in 1919 and can be found in products produced until the 1980s. For this reason, err on the side of caution with asbestos and assume that a material contains asbestos if it was produced during this period of time and it is a product commonly containing asbestos. This includes insulation, drywall, fireproofing materials, pipe, tiles, and roofing membrane. 

Arrange For Inspection, Testing, and Abatement

When you suspect asbestos is within your home, contact an EPA-approved asbestos inspector to complete the test safely and effectively. During a home test for asbestos, asbestos fibers have the potential to get into the air, so it is best if you arrange for a professional test, as they will secure the area's airflow and protect surfaces inside your home. You can also use a mail-in test, which you can use with a material that is already loose within your home, such as crumbly flooring or tiles. It is not safe to cut off a piece of material and risk the fibers becoming airborne.

After you have determined asbestos is present in materials within your home, you can arrange for professional abatement. This process will safely remove or encapsulate the asbestos fibers to prevent them from becoming a health hazard in your home.

Talk to a professional if you have any questions about asbestos inspections.