Testing is expensive and inaccurate and the probability of asbestos contamination is so great that the epa recommends erring on the side of caution rather than testing for asbestos.
Is it harmful to have adbestos in my attic.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country.
If your insulation contains particles that have a silver gold or gray brown color it may contain asbestos.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
Up to 85 percent of all vermiculite insulation in the u s.
This increases the risk to your health and your family s health.
If your home was built before 1990 and you have vermiculite insulation or if your house was built prior to 1970 it s likely that you have some form of asbestos in your attic or elsewhere.
Vermiculite is a mineral that was used for insulation.
Vermiculite insulation granules assume asbestos contamination.
Asbestos occurs in six mineral types and all have fibers that are harmful to lung tissue getting embedded in lung tissue and causing inflammation scarring and eventually tumors.
Avoid disturbing asbestos materials yourself.
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.
Odds are reduced but not completely eliminated if your home was built or renovated after 1990.
As those systems work harder we use more energy and pay much higher utility bills.
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.
So to be safe treat all vermiculite insulation as if it contains asbestos.
We have heating and air conditioning systems to fix these problems but the more opportunities warm air has to flow out of or into the house the harder those systems have to work.
Came from a mine in libby montana sold under the name zonolite.
If you have vermiculite based insulation in your attic it may contain asbestos.
The photo below from the us geological survey shows the fibers of the chrysotile type which makes up about 90 of all the commercially available asbestos.
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.
If your home was built before 1990 you might have vermiculite insulation in your walls or attic.
A properly insulated home will save money on energy costs by resisting the flow of heat and making your heating and air.
Check with your provincial and territorial workplace safety authorities to find out the qualifications or certifications needed in your area.
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.
