When our team goes into a location to perform an HVAC install or repair, we may find asbestos in your home, which will, necessarily, add cost to the project. If another contractor is willing to do the work without taking the necessary steps to remove – “abate” – or contain the asbestos, you should use caution, as they’re clearly not as concerned with following established regulations regarding the safety of their employees, and of you and your family in your home.

To remove asbestos we have to call in a certified contractor to remove (or “abate”) the dangerous materials.

Here’s the general information about asbestos, the risks, and how it affects our jobs.

Asbestos was commonly used in building materials prior to 1980, and is still commonly found in many homes built prior to that time.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to life-threatening health problems. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and is the only known cause of mesothelioma – serious cancer caused by breathing in or ingesting asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure can lead to other health issue including lung cancer and chronic respiratory conditions.

Materials containing asbestos can be found in heating and air conditioning ducts, vibration dampers, chimneys, and flues, air handlers or blower compartments. These may not necessarily be hazardous, as long as they are undisturbed.

However, certain repairs do require disturbing the insulation, drywall and shingles, which causes a potential danger, as they could release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air, putting anyone who inhales these fibers at risk of developing debilitating asbestos-related diseases. This includes the contractors working in the house and, of course, those who live in the home.

If you undertake do-it-yourself renovation projects in your house, you could be exposed to asbestos.

HVAC mechanics and technicians can be exposed to different asbestos products such as thermal insulation in or near areas where heating, ventilation or air conditioning units are stored inside buildings.

EC Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine data shows that HVAC mechanics are over four times more likely to have asbestosis-related health problems than the general population. Because we value safety above all else, UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing takes every precaution to prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

A homeowner’s costs of asbestos removal will depend on whether the project requires replacement of all ducts, or just replacement of the central air handling unit with connections to existing ducts.

Asbestos is highly dangerous and handling it is so important for safety purposes. We are concerned for your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your family, as well as our HVAC technicians & installers performing a job in your home. For these reasons we hire a certified asbestos removal professional with proper equipment – this is the only one who should be working with these dangerous materials.

If you need any help with heating, cooling, or plumbing, turn to UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing – our trusted team of HVAC experts bring decades of experience to make your home safe, comfortable, and more energy efficient.

Make an appointment for one of our services including heating and AC repair in Lancaster, PA, Reading, PA, Harrisburg, PA, and the Lehigh Valley, PA today.