How to Identify Asbestos Insulation

Asbestos insulation is a very common problem that many people have to deal with at some point. Several years ago, asbestos was commonly used in everything from shingles to floor tiles. Asbestos insulation was used in many homes that were built in the 1950s and 1960s. With many homes from that era still standing, it is no surprise to run into asbestos in some capacity. While it was common in that time period, it does not mean that you will necessarily have asbestos insulation just because you have an older house. Properly identifying asbestos insulation can help you avoid some serious health problems in the future. Asbestos has been directly linked to causing mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of breathing it in. The small fibers that come off of asbestos can kill you. Therefore, if you have asbestos insulation, you need to properly identify it and remove it from your house. Here are the basics of how to identify asbestos insulation in your house. 

Step 1- Determine the Age of Your House

The first thing that you need to do is determine exactly when your home was constructed. Some houses look very old, but they have just been maintained poorly. You need to find out if your house was built before 1989 or not. This was the year that asbestos was officially banned by the Environmental Protection Agency. If it was built before then, there is a chance that it could be asbestos in your walls. 

Step 2- Prepare for Encounter with Asbestos

When you are about to come in direct contact with asbestos, you need to make sure that you are protected. The last thing that you want to do is be breathing around asbestos insulation. Asbestos, if disturbed, can release microscopic fibers that get down into your lungs. 

When you are ready to look at the insulation, make sure that you wear protective clothing. You need safety goggles, a protective mask, a respirator, gloves, and a protective suit. While you could get by without these precautions, you should not take any unnecessary risks. Asbestos will not kill you immediately, but it is similar to smoking cigarettes. It will take a long period of time to make a difference. However, you can just avoid any problems by covering up properly.

Step 3- Take a Sample

Asbestos insulation usually looks like a loose gray material. They also commonly wrapped it around the outside of pipes. Take a small sample of the insulation and place it into a sealed container. 

Step 4- Have it Analyzed

There are a number of labs out there that can analyze asbestos for you. They have to be certified by the EPA and they have to use a method called polarizing light microscopy to tell for sure. You can send your sample off to the lab and they will analyze it quickly. They will let you know whether or not you are dealing with asbestos insulation.