Is There Asbestos In My Attic Insulation

The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.

Is there asbestos in my attic insulation.

If you reside in a home that was built or remodeled prior to 1990 the possibility exists that you may have attic insulation that contains asbestos. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. Several years ago asbestos was commonly used in everything from shingles to floor tiles and asbestos insulation was used in many homes that were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Fiberglass and cellulose are the most common insulation installed in residential attics today.

You may also find thousands of loose particles within walls or under attic flooring. 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. Asbestos can be found in the insulation used in walls attics the materials around plumbing and pipes electrical wiring as well as on heating and air conditioning units. 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.

However there are loose fill wall and attic insulation which can contain asbestos. 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. 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. Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country.

If you remove or disturb the insulation it is probable that you may inhale some asbestos fibers the degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred. If you notice that you have insulation that is falling apart in your building have a professional inspect for asbestos. 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. Asbestos insulation is a very common problem that many people have to deal with at some point.

Other than vermiculite it s actually quite rare to find thermal insulation in residential attics that contains asbestos. I have never read or heard of either containing any asbestos fibers. Attic insulation may contain asbestos too and just like the other asbestos containing materials and products it entails a great risk of developing severe diseases such as mesothelioma or lung cancer especially if it is in poor condition.