3 Things You Should About The Possibility Of Asbestos In Your Home

If your home was built in the 1980s or before this time, there is the possibility that asbestos was used in its construction. Asbestos is a material that was used in the construction of homes and buildings due to its extraordinary insulation properties, especially against heat. However, over time, it was learned that asbestos fibers can cause health issues that can result in early death. For this reason, there are a few things you should know about asbestos in your home.

1. When should your home be tested?

Asbestos fibers are rarely a problem unless the insulation is disturbed. So, before you do any home improvements, such as tearing into a wall, tearing up floors, removing popcorn coating on the ceilings, removing insulation around pipes, or anything in your home that even remotely may have asbestos insulation, you should have testing done. If your home is damaged in some way, such as a storm, it could expose asbestos. This insulation can also deteriorate and become a hazard. In addition, before you sell your home, you will need to have this testing done. A realtor will want to see a testing certificate, and there are likely laws that govern testing before a sale.

2. You should not test for asbestos yourself

Although there are test kits available on the market, you should hire a certified professional to do this work. Due to the danger of asbestos, you could easily create a health hazard when attempting to test for asbestos. A professional will have special equipment that will keep your home safe during testing. In addition, they have the knowledge of where to test and how to specifically perform the test. There is a good chance that you may not find the asbestos because you are not looking in the right place or testing properly. This can lead to you thinking your house is asbestos-free when the exact opposite is true.

3. Always use a professional for asbestos abatement

It is close to a certitude that you will create a health hazard if you attempt to do this yourself. It is far more of a job than using breathing equipment when removing the asbestos. A professional will remove all of the asbestos from your entire home and not just parts of it. Your house will be asbestos-free, and you can begin the work that you want to be done on your house.

Testing and removing asbestos is not a do-it-yourself project for the homeowner. The dangers of this type of insulation are well-documented. If you suspect that you have asbestos in your home, do not hesitate to have a certified technician test your house. For more information, contact a company like The Healthy Abode.