How To Tell If Your Attic Has Asbestos

A quick visual inspection can tell you whether or not you should get your insulation tested for asbestos.

How to tell if your attic has asbestos.

If your building was constructed after 1995 it likely won t contain asbestos but if it was made between the 1940s and 1980s there is a good chance that it does. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you. Loose fill insulation 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. Unfortunately it has been linked to forms of cancer and lung disorders.

To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement. 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. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. 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.

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. Here s how to tell if your home contains asbestos insulation and what to do about it. 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. Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in.

Therefore if you have asbestos insulation you need to properly identify it and have it safely removed from your house. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself.