How To Tell If Your Attic Has Asbestos

Step 1 determine the age of your house.

How to tell if your attic has asbestos.

Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in. 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 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. A quick visual inspection can tell you whether or not you should get your insulation tested for 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. To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement. Unfortunately it has been linked to forms of cancer and lung disorders. 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.

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. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself. 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. If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it.

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 small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you.