Online StoreAs a Lacey resident you’ve probably heard how bad asbestos can be for the human body, but did you know it could be in your home right now, posing a potentially dangerous health risk to your family? Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used for centuries as a flame retardant and insulator in homes and clothing. In the 1970s it was discovered that asbestos was not safe because of how easily it frays and enters the lungs. Workers and homeowners exposed to frayed asbestos have a much higher risk of a particular type of lung cancer called mesothelioma, which may not show up for years.
So, if asbestos is present in your home, careful testing and inspection should be performed to determine if it poses an immediate risk to anyone in your family. If there is a slight risk for exposure to asbestos, or any indoor pollutant that should be inspiration enough to improve your home’s ventilation and air filtration.
Where Asbestos Comes From
Asbestos is most commonly found in homes built before 1978 in the insulation, acoustical material, fireproofing, or floor tiles. While home insulation is a common culprit, so too is the insulation placed around pipes and floorboards in the basement.
When the asbestos laden material starts to deteriorate or is damaged, it begins to flake or fray into the air, emitting extremely small particles that are easily breathed. High levels of asbestos in your indoor air are not necessary to expose your family to risk, though they do substantially increase that risk. For these type of contaminates consider installing a HEPA air filter in your air ducts to capture some of these harmful particles.
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos
It’s impossible to know for sure if insulation contains asbestos without testing. If you know for sure that there is asbestos and it hasn’t been disturbed, leave it alone. Asbestos is only dangerous when it breaks off and enters the air you breathe. So, the most common abatement technique is to cover it so it cannot get into the air supply.
Contractors are frequently required to carry asbestos removal certification that not only shows they are trained in proper techniques for covering it up, but that any removed asbestos is properly disposed of. If you suspect a problem with your insulation, even if you’re unsure what material it contains, call a contractor immediately for testing.
If testing shows that asbestos is present and it has been damaged, your contractor will recommend an abatement technique to either remove or cover that insulation permanently. Even if asbestos is left behind but is well covered, it should pose no future risk to your family. Please contact Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning to set up an indoor air quality test.