Asbestos in House - What to do About Asbestos in Your House

Written by Tim Nash

The Cyclone Files

If you know or have known someone who has lung disease that is related to exposure to asbestos fibers, it can make you worried.  The various lung diseases that can be contracted due to exposure to asbestos products are very serious and often fatal.  The concern about whether you are at risk from asbestos exposure to such a dire fate can be the kind of thing that will keep you up at night.  

Asbestos "poisoning" is the ultimate nightmare scenario.  For thirty years, asbestos was used in almost every office or home insulation as part of the insulation of the building.  Little did we know that we were surrounding ourselves with a serious health risk that can cause lung cancer and similar diseases.  The asbestos fibers are easy to breathe in and not even know it was there.  The diseases incubate for decades so you might be carrying an asbestos related diseases potential and not even know it.  The way asbestos can attack you or your friends or family would make a good science fiction story.  The problem is that this story is true.

Naturally when you do begin to wonder if you and your family are perfectly safe from a potential asbestos related tragedy.  The first thing to do about the potential of asbestos illness from the insulation in your house is to get out of the arena of fear and paranoia and into the world of facts.  Asbestos was banned from use as insulation filler in 1985.  So if your house was built after that date, you do not have asbestos in your walls or ceiling.  If your house is more than 23 years old, the next step is to find out what is the make up of your home insulation.

It is still not a time to panic because even if asbestos was used in your home, that doesn’t mean you have been at serious risk since you moved in.  Asbestos insulation is installed with the asbestos material sealed inside of an outer shell of durable and tough corrugated paper.  Asbestos is dangerous when the fibers that make up the substance get into the air where you might potentially breathe them into your lungs.  So the only way the insulation in your home could be dangerous if it did use asbestos as filling is if those outer shells were ruptured.  It is very possible to have had asbestos insulation in your attic all this time but if it was not damaged, you were not in any danger.

If your home is more than 23 years old, schedule an inspection of your insulation to find out if it might have asbestos filling.  If so, the inspector can also tell you if the insulation is intact and without breaks or ruptures.  Since insulation exists in an environment where there is little opportunity for damage, the odds are great your insulation is fine.  But be sure you are working with a skilled inspector because you don’t want the act of inspection to damage the insulation housings.

If the asbestos threat is there, your contractor can give you a course of action.  Removal may not be the best move as that step creates a higher risk of rupture of the insulation.  The insulation a can be encased with a spray that coats the outer casings to prevent rupture.  Or additional structure can be put around the insulation so it is more protected from damage or the possibility of asbestos getting into the air.  By working with trained professionals, the rest plan to make your home safe can be put into action so you can sleep at night knowing you are safe from asbestos related illness.