Tales from the Road - Asbestos Insulation

Sometimes what we don't know about an aspect of our home or how something works in our home can really complicate a situation. Knowledge really is power, and having it--especially when it comes to our home--can ultimately save money, time, and aggravation. I think everyone can relate to that. Has anyone ever gone ahead and began repairing something in your home or making a decision about something, only in hindsight to realize that you should have read up on it first? Or worse, that you did the complete opposite of what you now know was right--yikes! We've all been there.

As an inspector, these situations (or evidence of these situations) pop up fairly often--but never quite like it did on one particular day:

I did a home inspection in a home that was in really nice condition with no major defects. It was very well kept and I related this information to the home buyers and their agent after the inspection and outside at the front sidewalk. The only issue in the whole home was that the steam pipes appeared to be covered with asbestos insulation, but the asbestos covering was in excellent shape with no damage or friable (easily crumbled or reduced to powder) asbestos noted. So it was a concern but by no means a disaster item.

After the inspection, I was loading my car with my tools, and suddenly the homeowner ran outside and said for me to come back into the basement. He wanted to show me something! Well, I go into the basement and there is the Asbestos covering all over the floor! Apparently, while I was going over the home inspection with the clients, the homeowner was in the basement removing ALL of the asbestos with a box cutter! On no! (Those of you who know a bit about Asbestos are gasping with me right now). He had removed it all and wanted me to leave it out of the report now that he thought, innocently enough, that he had “corrected” this issue. When I finally closed my dropped jaw, I had to explain to him that he was actually better off leaving it alone, and that, unfortunately, an Asbestos abatement company would now have to be called to remove the Asbestos and clean all of the surfaces of loose fibers!

That probably was not that particular homeowners best day. This is a dramatic example, but it helps to illustrate how very important it is to find out all the information you can about an aspect of your home before working with it in any way, because something could get seriously damaged or, like in this example, you could actually put yourself or your family at risk.

So what would this homeowner have learned about asbestos and asbestos insulation if he had read up on it later that afternoon instead? Let's take a look. Here are some of the basics on Asbestos insulation from the Environmental Protection Agency:

What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.

How Can Asbestos Affect My Health?
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer; mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

What Should Be Done About Asbestos In The Home?
If you think asbestos may be in your home, don't panic. Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers.

Major repairs must be done only by a professional trained in methods for safely handling asbestos. Minor repairs should also be done by professionals since there is always a risk of exposure to fibers when asbestos is disturbed. Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos materials can create a hazard where none existed.

---

For more information on asbestos visit the EPA online!
Asbestos Do's And Don'ts for the Homeowner