There are a number of reasons that you do not want asbestos in your home or office, such as the damage long-term exposure can do to your lungs. However, prior to being banned, it was used in a lot of products, including the insulation of homes. Some homes today may still have the dangerous fibers in the walls due to never having an asbestos removal performed.Asbestos remediation, also called residential asbestos abatement, is especially important in older houses that may have been built before the ban. Here are some ways to tell if you may have a problem.
In order to properly identify asbestos in your home, the fibers from the insulation have to be tested by a professional, as looks alone often do not do the trick. These inspection companies use technology such as polarized light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, which requires the use of lab equipment that is not readily available to the average homeowner. It is important to get these tests done, however, to help determine if you need to schedule asbestos removal in your home.
If your home is older, being built before the 1980s, you will want to send your insulation fibers to be tested for asbestos. However, it is not recommended to collect these samples on your own due to the risk of the fibers getting into the air and being inhaled, causing the exact problems you are hoping to avoid by getting a removal team. Instead, call a professional inspector to come and collect the samples for you. These professionals are trained to safely handle insulation fibers so that the risks are minimized for all involved.
Asbestos is no laughing matter. If you think that you may be living with asbestos, or if you are in the process of purchasing a new home built before 1980, it is important to get an inspection as soon as possible and possibly schedule asbestos removal