While asbestos can be found in older houses or even during a renovation, most products today do not contain asbestos.

The process of using asbestos in homes and commercial buildings dates to the 1800s, when it was mined in the U.S. Many building products used through the 1970s still contained some levels of asbestos.

It’s estimated that more than 5,000 products still in use contain asbestos, including brake shoes and clutch pads and hot water pipes. Therefore, depending on the age of a property, you could have asbestos in a house.

Is Asbestos Banned?

The U.S. government has historically taken a strong stance on the possible dangers of asbestos. For example, toward the end of the 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in gas fireplaces and patching compounds.

Electric hair dryers also used to contain asbestos, but manufacturers began to voluntarily withdraw asbestos fibers during the manufacturing process, according to the website Environment, Health and Safety Online.

What Places in My House Are Most Likely to Have Asbestos?

When renovating a home, you might tear out material that contains asbestos fibers. This is especially true with older homes. Knowing where you’re most likely to encounter asbestos can help ensure you handle any of these items carefully when they are being removed.

The biggest health concerns related to asbestos have to do with the fibers being released into the air, so make sure you have a plan in place for safely removing this material. According to BetterHealth.com, some of the most common items asbestos fibers that might be present when renovating an older home include:

• Floor tiles with rubber, asphalt, and vinyl
• Steam pipes and boilers
• Door gaskets
• Patching and joint compounds in ceilings and walls.
• Asbestos cement roofing

Asbestos cannot be detected just by looking at it. When it comes to removing material that may contain asbestos, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Asbestos fibers can be released during attic renovations, from brake fibers in the garage, while removing floor tiles and/or throwing them away, during popcorn ceiling removal, cutting pipe insulation, or drilling into drywall. All of these activities require careful attention if the home was built before 1980. The best way to avoid possible asbestos exposure in a house is to not disturb it, since breathing the released fibers is dangerous for everyone, including kids and pets.

An asbestos professional can be consulted if there concerns about whether or not products or areas in the home have been affected by a previous installation with asbestos products. This may provide peace of mind about an upcoming home renovation and removal of asbestos in a house.

How Do I Know if I Have Medical Problems from Asbestos?

Most medical issues from asbestos exposure do not appear until 15 years after exposure. The majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos on numerous occasions, often in the workplace.