When it comes to harmful substances, asbestos might be king. Once extensively used in construction, today we know that its tiny particles cause cancer and severely damage the respiratory system. At Inch by Inch Inspections, our teams of asbestos abatement experts help families and businesses with safe and effective asbestos removal to eliminate this surprisingly common threat to indoor safety. While asbestos use is now banned, older homes across the GTA built around 1985 still contain materials created with asbestos. If you’re not sure whether you’re affected, indoor air quality testing can help determine if you’re being exposed at home and help you remove or treat materials to keep you safe.
What Are HEPA Filters?
HEPA filters are high-efficiency air purifying filters designed to remove dangerous particles from the air. By forcing air through ultra fine meshes, HEPA filters can remove contaminants such as smoke, dust, and pollen out of the air. When indoor air quality testing detects asbestos fibers in the air HEPA filters can be used to facilitate their removal, but only with the supervision of expert asbestos abatement professionals.
How Asbestos Fibres are Exposed
Because asbestos was used in everything from insulation to ceiling tiles to pipe wrap, it can be difficult to know if it affects your home and where specifically in your home is compromised. Asbestos isn’t dangerous until its tiny fibres become airborne. Airborne asbestos can be triggered by multiple factors, including: age, wear and tear, and damage are the most common. Once it starts to degrade, the microscopic fibres readily float into the air and, unfortunately, into our respiratory system.
Do HEPA Filters Remove Asbestos Fibres?
Yes — HEPA filters are designed to capture physical particles, like mold spores, allergens, particulates, and asbestos fibres. HEPA filters can capture particles above and below a 0.3 micron size, making the relatively large 0.7-90 micron sized asbestos particles easy to catch. However, the experienced and certified Inch By Inch Inspection team recommends against relying on long-term HEPA filter use if you have a known asbestos problem, because it can take a long time for a filtration system to lower the particle count, leaving you and your family at risk for longer. Any amount of asbestos exposure is unsafe, making asbestos abatement the only method we recommend.
How To Prevent Asbestos Contamination
One of the most important recommendations we can make is to have asbestos testing before you begin any major or minor home renovations if you live in a building built before 1985. After this date, various asbestos bans came into effect as its effect on respiratory health and links to cancer became well known. Asbestos testing can help you determine if asbestos is present or what materials need to be handled carefully, helping you prevent and avoid dangerous exposure.
Asbestos Removal Services with Inch By Inch Inspections
Inch by Inch Inspections is one of the GTA’s leading indoor air quality testing specialists. Whether it’s mold spores, asbestos, radon gas testing, or other concerns about your indoor environment, our highly trained and knowledgeable team members are happy to help you get to the bottom of them. To learn more about asbestos abatement, testing, or learn whether your home is affected, contact our team to request a quote.