Asbestos, once disturbed, can be harmful to your health and the health of anyone else living in your home. Many homes built before 1982 were constructed using asbestos-laden materials. The first step in eliminating this harmful substance from your home is finding out where it's hiding. You cannot tell just by looking at your popcorn ceilings if there is asbestos in the plaster. You must remove a portion of the ceiling and have the materials tested by an EPA certified lab. The process will give you an answer within a couple of weeks.
Instructions
1. Locate an authorized testing lab by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency's website. The EPA provides a list of reputable labs.
2. Call the test lab you've chosen. Request a testing kit. The kit will be mailed to your home containing instructions and packaging for your test sample.
3. Turn off your air conditioner or heater. Keeping the air flow down reduces the amount of hazardous material that will circulate through your home.
4. Spray water onto the ceiling. This dampens the material and prevents dust from floating through the air as you remove the sample.
5. Scrape one tablespoon of plaster from the ceiling with a metal scraper. Place the sample in the bag or other container that was provided by the test lab.
6. Mail the sample to the test lab as instructed. The lab will return your results once testing is complete. Contact your test lab for specific questions on read the test results or to find out how long the testing will take.
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