Asbestos testing is something every property owner should do. Asbestos is an extremely dangerous substance that is still present in many home's insulations as well as in cars and other materials. That said, many homeowners have decided to do their own testing with new asbestos DIY kits. These DIY kits are marketed as being most cost-efficient than traditional lab testing but are they your best option?
Are DIY Asbestos Testers Effective?
There are many projects that homeowners are empowered to do themselves nowadays. From electrical work to home remodeling. However, with testing for harmful substances in the home, is it really effective to do it yourself instead of trusting a licensed professional? The first thing you need to consider is where asbestos may exist in your home. A DIY kit's instructions will direct the user to check walls, insulation, and ceilings. But it may not include searching cars, pipe insulation wraps, shingles, and floor tiles. Even if you know all the right places to look, you might still test ineffectively. You could get a false positive for your test if you only test certain parts of your homes or incorrectly gather materials.
Are DIY Asbestos Testers Safe?
Another concern you might have when testing asbestos yourself is whether or not using a DIY tester is safe for your own personal health. Asbestos causes lung diseases including asbestosis. Willingly exposing yourself to sources of asbestos in your home to gather samples could be dangerous to your health. Not only do you need to get a proper disposable coverall, but you will also need gloves, glasses, boot covers, respirators, and to manage airborne asbestos fibers that you stir up when inspecting your home. The cost of a full HEPA suit could offset your initial savings and, failure to use proper equipment could have negative effects on your health.
Be Aware Of DIY Asbestos Testing Scams
The key to any DIY asbestos testing kit is that it purports to be less expensive than using a traditional lab test. However, some kits hide a second charge by charging you for both the kit and the lab results separately. So although the price of the kit may seem inexpensive in comparison, make sure that you are not going to be charged twice. Other testers do not include a pre-paid mailer to send your fibers to the lab. If you are going to use a DIY tester make sure to research the full cost of the tester.
