Be On The Lookout For Dangerous Asbestos Insulation Asbestos Attic Insulation

Asbestos barely needs an launch anymore. By now, most homeowners should be present schooled inside the general dangers about disturbing including breathing asbestos fibers. In older homes, specifically, asbestos may be present found inside products ranging from furnace including hot water pipe insulation to floor tiles. The recommendation is normally to leave it inside place including not disturb it, provided at the whole amount possible, or to own a professional asbestos abatement company handle it when removal is unavoidable. But asbestos can and be present found inside some types about loose-fill attic including divider insulation, too. You own no worries provided your insulation is inside batt form—the type about insulation that may pose a risk is ​loose-fill insulation that is poured loosely into joist or divider stud cavities. Beneath attic floorboards or inside walls, you may turn up many thousands about detached particles. That's the type about insulation that could pose a risk. 

How, exactly, can you recognize whether your attic insulation is asbestos? Let's view at the particulars about loose-fill insulation that may contain asbestos. 

Vermiculite Attic Insulation

The main source about asbestos risk concerns vermiculite attic insulation, but not the whole amount brands or the whole amount sources about vermiculate pose a hazard. There is nothing inherently bad on vermiculite, which is a pellet-like mineral that expands at high temperatures including which is frequently worn for gardening as an amendment that loosens earth including improves its ability to transmit water. 

Vermiculite is and worn for insulation, inside particular, the vermiculite that was mined through the Libby company inside Montana for on 70 years, under the brand name Zonolite.

Zonolite presents a health risk one because it was contaminated accompanied by tremolite, an asbestos-like mineral. Even while the majority about U.S. vermiculite attic insulation did near from the Libby mine, keep inside mind that on 30% did not near from this source.

Your Loose-Fill Insulation May Contain Asbestos If:

• Your residence was built earlier than 1990. Because the Libby mine closed inside 1990, houses built or remodeled earlier than that date might own asbestos-containing attic insulation. If it was built after 1990, the chances are reduced but not eliminated.
• The insulation particles own a certain color. Zonolite is normally gray-brown or silver-gold.
• The particles own an accordion-like texture. Because Zonolite is subjected to heat, the accordion texture is a result about the particle puffing up.
• If the insulation lays flat: Zonolite lays flat including firm inside the joist cavity, as opposed to loose-fill fiberglass, which tends to fluff up, a lot similar to a snow drift.

Although Zonolite is a mineral, it is lightweight, because during the production process it is subjected to high heat that causes the particles to puff up.

Is the Loose-fill Gray, Soft including Without a Shine?

If so, it is probably cellulose insulation. Cellulose has a high recycled news content, no minerals. Close examination will show that this puffy gray material does not contain earth minerals at all, but will view similar to shredded gray paper. Cellulose insulation is a perfectly safe type about insulation that is blown into the cavities between the joists. 

Is the Loose-fill White including Fluffy, With a Little Shine?

If so, it is probably fiberglass fill. Because it is a glass product, fiberglass will own a slight flash when subjected to bright light. It is very soft, almost similar to cotton candy. Fiberglass can be present a breathing nuisance, but it is not famous to cause cancer.

Is the Loose-fill Gray, Puffy, including Fibrous?

Another mineral-based detached fill insulation is boulder wool, which frequently appears as bundles about fibers accompanied by a soft, cottony appearance. Rock wool is white, off-white or brownish-white. Rock wool is a manufactured product, made through melting basaltic boulder including dolomite including adding binders. The raw material is heated to 2,750 degrees Fahrenheit until it melts. The molten material is spun into fibers accompanied by air pressure. Rock wool is installed as detached insulation or as woven insulation batts, including similar to fiberglass, the insulation fibers should be present handled accompanied by care, but are not famous to cause cancer. 

Illustration: Elnora Turner. © The Spruce, 2019 

What provided I Suspect I Have Zonolite Vermiculite Insulation?

If your loose-fill insulation fits the visual cues for vermiculite insulation, you can check to see provided it is the asbestos-carrying Zonolite type through purchasing a DIY asbestos testing kit or seeking a commercial firm who can test for asbestos. DIY kits are normally available for less than $50. If you discover that you perform own insulation containing asbestos, you are well advised to seek an abatement company to handle its removal. Unfortunately, this is an expensive proposition, but you cannot place a price on your family's health. 

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