How to Recognize Asbestos in Your Home and What to Do About It

The presence of asbestos within the home constitutes a serious health hazard, one that you would do well to identify and address without delay. Homes built before 1980 commonly used asbestos in numerous ways. Arranging to have your home inspected by a professional is often the only way to determine if asbestos was incorporated into the installation of your floor or ceiling tiles, roofing, plumbing system, and other installations.

Understanding the Risk

Asbestos dust and fibers that become airborne pose a serious health risk. Repairing or replacing old boilers, furnaces, plumbing, and even floors or ceilings in homes that have asbestos can place occupants at serious risk. Asbestos itself may not be detected through a simple visual inspection. Arranging for professional inspection and asbestos removal services is often the only way to determine if there is a problem and to ensure that it can be dealt with safely and effectively. When you decide to find a professional to help with your removal, make sure they understand the building’s history as well as local area codes to ensure that the job is done correctly.

Scheduling an Inspection

When it comes to dealing with asbestos, it pays to be proactive. Arranging an inspection prior to purchasing a home, especially an older property, is often prudent. Contacting a professional in order to determine the risks involved or need for a professional inspection prior to any major home repair, remodeling, or renovation project that has the potential to release airborne asbestos into the home would also be a wise course of action. Finding out that a home has a costly asbestos removal project could be a very important step in deciding if you want to purchase it or not.

Cleanup and Removal

Asbestos cleanup may utilize a variety of methods depending on where it is found, the condition the asbestos is in, and whether or not it may be prone to crumble or become airborne should removal be attempted. Home and property owners rarely possess the proper tools, training, and other resources that are required in order to ensure safe cleanup. Failing to detect the presence of asbestos within your home, ignoring the problem, or attempting to deal with it on your own could end up jeopardizing the health and well-being of your entire household. As part of the removal process, make sure whoever you choose to do the job is capable of disposing of the materials properly as well.

While asbestos within the home may be an invisible threat, it is not one that should be taken lightly. Home and property owners who lack the training and resources needed to detect, identify and safely remove any asbestos-containing materials that may be found within their household would do well to contact a trained professional. When it comes to older homes, especially those that were built before 1980, arranging for an inspection can make a lifesaving difference.

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