Asbestos Pipe Insulation Removal - Learn How To Do It Yourself

Breathing in asbestos fibers can lead to breathing problems and heart failure. Asbestos fibers cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the chest or abdomen lining. Those who have a lot of exposure can get asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs.

If your asbestos pipe insulation is in good condition, there is no need to remove it, it might be best to eave it as it is, since disturbing it can raise up asbestos dust. However, if it is not in good condition it should be removed to prevent asbestos dust getting into the air.

Asbestos pipe insulation removal is best done by a certified asbestos contractor. These people are trained and have the proper equipment to handle the asbestos pipe insulation removal in the safest way possible. However, asbestos pipe insulation removal can be expensive when done by an asbestos removal professional, so some home owners will do asbestos pipe insulation removal themselves.

In order to do asbestos pipe insulation removal yourself, you need to clear everything out of the room that can be moved. You should turn off the water heater and as much of the electricity in the room as you can. Then you need to cover all surfaces except for the small area where from which you are removing the asbestos pipe insulation. You should do this with 2 layers of 6 mil polyethylene plastic sheeting.

To keep yourself safe during asbestos pipe insulation removal you need to wear disposable tyvek type coveralls, a respirator with purple coded HEPA filters, eye protection, disposable rubber gloves, and pull on rubber boots.

During asbestos pipe insulation removal, you need to thoroughly wet the insulation with a mixture of dish detergent and water and scrape it off, immediately putting all asbestos pipe insulation removal waste into properly labeled asbestos disposal bags. As each bag gets filled, get rid of excess air and seal the bag with duct tape.

Once you have completed the asbestos pipe insulation removal, you need to use wet disposable rags to wipe down the area where the insulation was to remove residue. Then you should apply some latex paint or other encapsulation material to lock any remaining asbestos to the surface.

Then the asbestos pipe insulation removal is complete, and you need to clean the area. Tools need to be washed and the water put into the disposal bags, the plastic sheeting and all other waste needs to be put in the disposal bags, including your disposable safety gear. You need to use a HEPA wet/dry vacuum to clean the area to make sure all asbestos particles possible are removed.

Finally, you need to bring all the asbestos waste bags filled with the debris and waste from your asbestos pipe insulation removal to an approved landfill. These need to have the appropriate asbestos warning on them, and they need to have your name, address, and the date of removal on each bag as well.