Finding asbestos in your home can be frightening. Asbestos can cause major health problems if inhaled, and removing it properly from your home is essential in guaranteeing your family’s safety. If you find asbestos in your home, it’s important to know what to do, as well as what not to do, as some actions you take can cause more harm than good. Here are the top do’s and don’ts to follow after discovering asbestos.
Do Avoid the Contaminated Area
Asbestos becomes dangerous when its fine particles get into the air. Usually, this happens when the contaminated area is disturbed or materials containing asbestos are moved or damaged. The simple solution is to create a perimeter around the area that no one crosses. If you have children, make the boundaries clear to them so that they don’t accidentally cause damage.
Do Contact an Asbestos Removal Contractor
Asbestos removal involves touching and moving any material containing asbestos, which comes with the risk of exposure. It is never advised to attempt to remove the asbestos on your own without professional help. Call an asbestos removal contractor that is trained and qualified to handle the situation. These professionals are equipped with the appropriate tools to safely remove the asbestos from your home. You should contact a professional even if you only want to take a small sample of the asbestos or are doing a miniscule repair.
Don’t Handle the Asbestos by Yourself
Asbestos particles can get into the air and lungs easily, and removing it yourself isn’t worth the serious health consequences. It’s better to leave all asbestos alone and untouched until an asbestos removal contractor can assess the situation and remove it.
Don’t Work on an Area That Contains Asbestos
It doesn’t matter if you want to sweep up or vacuum materials that may contain asbestos, sand an asbestos floor or drill into asbestos: You should avoid disturbing the asbestos at all costs. Any construction activities around the asbestos allow it to break up easier and transfer to other parts of the house. Asbestos flooring that needs replacing should be done by a professional and properly sealed afterward.
Don’t Walk Through Asbestos Material
Walking through asbestos not only means breaking it up into finer particles, but it can also track the asbestos throughout your house. If you need to walk through an area with asbestos, call an asbestos contractor, like Nielsen Environmental, to see exactly what to do. You may need to use a wet mop and protective gear to clean the area.