How To Tell If Your Attic Insulation Has Asbestos

Check the manufacturer and product name on the insulation label and do a web search to find out if it contains asbestos.

How to tell if your attic insulation has asbestos. Asbestos might seem like a problem of the old times but little do most people know that it is still present in a lot of homes across the u s. In case your home was constructed before 1990 it could have been built using insulation containing asbestos. It was used in construction materials including roofing materials asphalt shingles roofing felt adhesives putty caulking and patching materials. Asbestos insulation is a very common problem that many people have to deal with at some point.

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. Also you need to consider if any disturbance of the insulation possibly by a contractor doing work in your attic may result in the fibers being deposited into other areas of your. There isn t necessarily a surefire way to tell if your insulation has asbestos unless it s labeled or you have an expert take a look. 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.

Tremolite has similarities to asbestos. The libby mine was closed in 1990. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself. The date of the building or material can also tell you a lot about asbestos risk.

Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. Consequently if your attic insulation looks like wool you should have a sample tested in order to make sure you are safe within your home. Loose fill insulation could have asbestos.

If you do not go into your attic handle or disturb the insulation it is likely that you will not be exposed to asbestos fibers from vermiculite insulation. If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it. Buildings made between the 1940s and the 1980s are very likely to have used asbestos materials. Asbestos insulation was widely used as an insulation material in most residential commercial and public buildings constructed between 1920 and 1986.