Old Attic Insulation Dangerous

Two types of old insulation that are dangerous to your health are urea formaldehyde foam which is usually gray or yellow and brittle and asbestos.

Old attic insulation dangerous.

We have lived in this house for 40 years. It has vermiculite insulation in the attic. Ben martin time life pictures getty images. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation.

Formaldehyde off gasing is a concern so this product is no longer on the market. Can these homes be safely remediated and is it best to have the old insulation removed by a licensed asbestos professional. Most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos which may cause cancer and other health problems. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Although most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos there are a few more types of hazardous insulation that are commonly found in older homes. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. Homeowners can also come across fiberglass insulation during repairing or clearing out the attic. One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. You give it a kick and the blanket unfurls onto the floor. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. About 20 years ago i had additional insulation blown in to the attic that covered the.

Rummaging around in your friend s newly renovated attic you notice what looks like a rolled up blanket in the far corner. If the insulation is not properly sealed off it can get into air vents and circulate through the building. Old attic insulation types. See more pictures of hidden home dangers.

Fiberglass insulation is not generally considered to be dangerous but it can irritate the skin and respiratory system. Although some homeowners have used it in this way it was never approved for use in the attic. Signs of asbestos contamination. Dunlap december 9 2014 at 4 41 am.

Believe it or not there are situations in a home when you should remove the old attic insulation before adding more over the existing and in this short video. A few more examples of old insulation are sawdust balsa wood shredded newspaper and loose fill cellulose. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. As we mentioned previously vermiculite can often come with some asbestos mixed into it.

And as we all know asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore. Is insulation like fiberglass dangerous. Types of dangerous old insulation.