Welcome to my Homepage Blog. Here you'll find stories about inspections I have done and facts I think are interesting to share with you. Come back often to see what's new.
-Glenn, a.k.a. The House Whisperer
| Asbestos in the House |
| Written by Glenn Stewart |
| Sunday, 27 November 2011 04:29 |
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Learn about asbestos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos Home inspectors routinely encounter asbestos materials installed in older houses. What is asbestos? It's a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. The photo shows a floor register 'duct transition boot' wrapped in an asbestos-like material. Is this a problem? The following information was taken from the EPA publication: Asbestos in Your Home... http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/index.html When asbestos-containing materials (older acoustic ceiling tiles, some popcorn ceilings, linoleum floor tiles, heating ducts, etc.) are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems. Bottom line: If you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is needed. Before you have your house remodeled, find out whether asbestos materials are present. Call a professional. Count on Pacific Coast Inspections to report asbestos-like materials found during the home inspection. We'll recommend further review by a licensed HVAC contractor. |
