Asbestos insulation is common in older houses, but it can also cause serious health problems. Here’s how to tell if attic insulation has asbestos in your home.
If you live in an older home without any obvious heating and cooling problems, you might assume you have nothing to worry about when it comes to insulation. But even if your attic insulation is working as intended, it could contain asbestos—a material that can have a profoundly negative effect on your health.
Are you wondering how to tell if attic insulation has asbestos? If so, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll find our full guide to the insulation types that commonly contain this material and learn how to take care of asbestos insulation removal.
The History of Asbestos Insulation
Decades ago, asbestos was regularly used in home insulation due to advantages such as strength and fire resistance. However, these perks can’t outweigh the serious health issues associated with asbestos exposure.
In the early 1970s, scientists connected asbestos to these health problems. Because of that connection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started phasing out asbestos insulation in 1975. However, since the use of asbestos insulation was so widespread before that point, this insulation is still present in many older homes today.
What Makes Asbestos Insulation Hazardous?
Asbestos insulation is among the most dangerous materials that can be found in any home. When you or a loved one inhales asbestos fibers, you could encounter health problems like cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.
If you leave your asbestos insulation alone, your risk of inhaling asbestos fibers should be relatively low. However, the toxic fibers found in this material might become airborne as a result of repair and renovation work. Because of that, asbestos insulation should never be disturbed by anyone who doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing.
Identifying Different Types of Asbestos Insulation
The first step toward successfully dealing with asbestos insulation is determining whether or not your attic’s insulation contains this material. Some insulation types that commonly contain these fibers include:
Loose-Fill Insulation
Though loose-fill insulation made with materials like cellulose and fiberglass is still a popular insulation option today, older loose-fill insulation was often made of asbestos. If your loose-fill insulation has a fluffy but solid appearance and a whitish-gray color with a blue tinge, it might be made from this material.
Vermiculite Insulation
Vermiculite insulation is another type of loose-fill insulation that should be on your radar. This type of insulation visually resembles pebbles and is typically silver-gold or gray-brown in color.
Not all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos. However, a significant amount of the vermiculite insulation used in the U.S. came from a mine located near Libby, Montana—and the vermiculite taken from that mine was contaminated with this material. If your home was constructed before 1990 and has vermiculite insulation, there’s a good chance that its insulation contains asbestos.
The EPA has stated that people with vermiculite insulation should assume it is potentially contaminated with asbestos. Because of that, they should leave this material alone and choose a trustworthy contractor for removal work.
Spray-On Insulation
Is your ceiling covered with a thick layer of gray material? If so, you probably have spray-on insulation—which consists almost entirely of asbestos.
Block Insulation
These board-shaped pieces of wall insulation are made of nearly pure asbestos. Though block insulation was commonly used to insulate equipment, it can also be found in homes.
Blanket/Wrapped Pipe Insulation
Asbestos can also show up in insulation around the pipes in your crawl space and other areas of your home. There are two types of insulation you’ll need to look out for in this category:
- Asbestos air-cell insulation. This type of insulation resembles paper or corrugated cardboard, and is gray or off-white. It is fully wrapped around pipes and may be held in place with an outer casing.
- Asbestos wool insulation. This form of insulation looks very similar to wool and is also wrapped around pipes. Unfortunately, as this type of insulation ages, it can release asbestos fibers.
Insulation Types That Don’t Contain Asbestos
On the other hand, you shouldn’t have to worry about asbestos if your attic has:
Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose is one of the most common types of non-asbestos loose-fill insulation. This gray, soft material mostly consists of recycled paper.
Loose-Fill Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is another popular type of loose-fill insulation today. This is a white, fluffy material that may sparkle in the light since it consists of fine glass fibers.
Loose-Fill Rock Wool Insulation
Rock wool is a form of insulation created by melting dolomite, basaltic rock, and binders. Then, the resulting molten material is spun into fibers. Rock wool has a texture similar to cotton and may be white, brownish-white, off-white, or gray.
Batt Insulation
Batt (or “blanket”) insulation is sold in long strips measuring about 16 inches in width. For the most part, these batts are pink or white. Batt insulation can be made from rock wool, cellulose, and fiberglass (among other materials).
What Should You Do With Asbestos Insulation?
Do you have asbestos insulation in your attic (or vermiculite insulation that might be contaminated with asbestos)? If so, you definitely shouldn’t start dealing with it on your own. By leaving asbestos insulation in place, you’ll significantly reduce your exposure risk.
That said, you may be unsure whether or not your insulation contains asbestos. In that case, you can use an asbestos testing kit or get a sample tested at an approved laboratory. If these tests indicate that you have asbestos insulation, you’ll need to hire workers to deal with it on your behalf.
Get Rid of Asbestos Insulation the Safe Way
Even if you know how to tell if attic insulation has asbestos, you might be wondering who you can trust to remove and replace this material. At Attic Projects, our crews are ready to safely remove your asbestos insulation—and we’ll install new attic insulation to replace your old insulation material. Get in touch with us today to get started!