Asbestos Removal Questions Answered

12/20/2017 (Permalink)

Don't try to remove asbestos on your own. Call in a professional.

Asbestos Removal Questions Answered

Q: What is asbestos?

A: Asbestos is a carcinogen used extensively in building materials prior to the 1970s. It’s commonly found as duct and pipe insulation, vermiculite attic insulation*, ceiling and wall acoustical tiles, cement asbestos siding, floor tiles, floor tile adhesives, and automobile clutches and brakes.

*Vermiculite insulation is distinct from other common blown in insulation and easily spotted. Vermiculite insulation appears as gray-silvery chips about the size of a pinky nail.

Q: If I have asbestos in my home do I have to have it removed?

No. If the asbestos-containing materials in your home are undamaged, leave them alone. It’s more dangerous to disturb them, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But in most states, you must disclose the presence of asbestos to buyers of your home.

If you do remodeling and asbestos-containing materials are disrupted, the best thing to do is to have them removed professionally. Or if a storm or other natural disaster exposes asbestos you should have it removed. Removal is complex. Hire a trained and accredited asbestos professional. Improper removal may actually increase your and your family’s exposure to asbestos fibers.

Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield for Cleanup and Restoration. Call (860) 216-2785.

Q: What are the greatest health risks if I’m exposed to asbestos?

A:  Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is greater if you smoke. Disease symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure and asbestos-related conditions can be difficult to identify. Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis (a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs).

Q: Can asbestos be removed while people continue to work or live on the property?

A: Yes, but those workers will probably have to be relocated to another part of the building temporarily. And the part of the building where asbestos is being removed must be sealed off.  This prevents contamination of the other areas.

Q: How do you seal off an area during asbestos removal?

A: Methods of sealing off an area include using polyethylene film, duct tape, and negative air pressure machines fitted with HEPA filters. When properly applied, the film and duct tape don’t allow air-borne asbestos fibers to travel to other parts of the home or building. The negative air pressure machine pulls fresh air into the asbestos area while not allowing any asbestos fibers out into the surrounding environment.

Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield for Cleanup and Restoration. Call (860) 216-2785.

Q: Can a regular vacuum cleaner be used to remove asbestos?

A: No. Only a special vacuum cleaner designed for asbestos containment (class H) can be safely used when cleaning up during and after asbestos removal. Even an ordinary vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter is not safe. That ordinary vacuum cleaner will expel the asbestos fibers into the room air.

Q: What does it cost to remove asbestos from a house?

Asbestos removal costs vary depending on how much work must be done. Some contractors have a minimum fee of $1,500 to $3,000. Complete removal in a 1,500-square-foot home with asbestos everywhere—walls, floors, ceilings, attic, roof, pipes—could be as high as $20,000 to $30,000. But that’s unusual.

Q: Where can I go for more information?

The federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency has lots of information on asbestos and how to protect your family.

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The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield also has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, water damage, chemical cleanup, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime.

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