How Do You Know If Your Attic Insulation Has Asbestos

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.

How do you know if your attic insulation has asbestos. If your insulation contains particles that have a silver gold or gray brown color it may contain asbestos. Finally you may have attic insulation containing asbestos if it lies flat in the joist cavities and does not puff up like snow. Here s how to tell if your home contains asbestos insulation and what to do about it. Therefore if you have asbestos insulation you need to properly identify it and have it safely removed from your house.

This procedure is based on the mineral s property to float when placed in water in contrast with asbestos containing materials which sink. In case you suspect that your wall of attic insulation has the visual aspects that we have explained you can verify if they have asbestos by using a diy asbestos testing kit. Make sure any area containing vermiculite insulation is sealed off from the interior of your home. Use caulk or spray foam around seams light fixtures fans and switches as well as plumbing pipes or.

One of the most common tests which can reveal the existence of vermiculite in attic insulation is the cincinnati method. If you re unsure if your insulation contains asbestos play it safe and contact a professional to inspect it. Don t store anything in attics insulated with vermiculite and make the area is off limits. The first thing that you need to do is determine exactly when your home was constructed.

However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos. Vermiculite insulation granules keep out of contaminated areas. Do not try to remove insulation that could contain asbestos yourself. However it is advisable to consult a professional.

You can get an asbestos testing kit from your local convenience store for about 50. 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. 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.

You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring. Seal off vermiculite insulation. Another indicator is the referenced particles also have an accordion like look or texture. If you re insulation is the batt style insulation as the loose fill insulation has the higher risk as it s loosely poured into wall or joist cavities.

A quick visual inspection can tell you whether or not you should get your insulation tested for asbestos. Step 1 determine the age of your house.