Vermiculite is a mineral commonly used in attic insulation that is fire-resistant and lightweight. However, some vermiculite products contain asbestos, a mineral resistant to fire and heat. Exposure to asbestos through inhalation or ingestion is potentially hazardous and toxic.
So what should you do if you have vermiculite?
Test For Asbestos
This should be a given, but testing to see if your vermiculite insulation contains asbestos should be your first course of action above anything else. A sample of the vermiculite must be taken to test if asbestos is present, which one of our professionals can come in to do.
If under 1% of asbestos is present, we can remove it, or you can choose to leave it in place if it’s in good condition. However, you must ensure the asbestos remains undamaged and undisturbed.
However, if over 1% of the insulation contains asbestos, it would be considered an asbestos-containing material (ACM), and an abatement company would be required to come in for removal. In this situation, it is strongly recommended to have repairs done by trained professionals.
Removal
Nearly one million homes in the United States have vermiculite insulation, and millions of homes contain asbestos through the insulation and other means such as floor tiles, roof shingles, ceiling tiles, popcorn ceilings, and more.
There are other considerations, however, for whether or not you’d want to consider completely removing the asbestos or not. Not all, but a significant amount of vermiculite contains asbestos and is highly suggested to remove it.
- Asbestos is only harmful if the materials are damaged, disturbed, or when its fibers are released into the air
- Tiny bits of asbestos in the air can be advertently breathed into the lungs or swallowed, increasing the risk of diseases or cancers
- All forms of asbestos can cause cancer and exposure to it is unsafe
We strongly recommend that you call a professional to remove asbestos-containing material, as attempting to do so yourself can pose serious health risks due to its fibers being released into the air and contaminating the house if it’s done in an improper way.
Contact Josh Lowe’s Dr. Energy Saver today if you would like one of our experts to take a look at your vermiculite insulation and run tests for asbestos before considering removal.