Archive for March, 2010

24 Mar
2010

Asbestos Removal Guide

Posted by Norman Fong, March 24th, 2010

We recently did a home energy audit, and as a result found out that there was some asbestos in our heating system.  It causes Mesothelioma cancer if it becomes flaky and is blown around. Obviously we want to remove it from our home. Doing it ourself by wearing Personal protective gear, was out of the question.

You need equipment to cover you from head to toe and to filter the air you are breathing to avoid any contact with asbestos fibers. Non-fogging goggles for eye protection, rubber gloves and boots, and disposable coveralls including booties will protect skin and eyes. You will need a special respirator with a pair of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

We contacted several asbestos abatement companies, got bids, and selected one that looked reasonable.

The company first covers all heating vents, sets up a negative air flow and containment area. They then removed the offending asbestos while wearing protective gear. The containment area needs to stay in place overnight so you cannot use your heating or cooling systems during this time. Try to do this asbestos removal during the summer months otherwise you might freeze for a couple days. Most companies do not do HVAC work, so you need to hire a firm to restore your heating system.