If you found that your home was contaminated and polluted with fiberglass dust, it could be quite frightening and shocking, especially when you don’t know what to do about it. It is not easy to cope with such a disaster and so cleaning up may require a professional. For one, it can be exhaustive and very time-consuming.
However, fiberglass insulation cleaning has to be done to protect the environment you live in and your health. The only way to maintain good health after discovering this is to hire a professional who knows how to detect and remove the dust’s source and cause. What recourse should you immediately take on how to clean up fiberglass insulation dust?
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Making Arrangements For Other Accommodation
First, you should arrange to change your environment and location, which means you may have to go live with a relative or stay with a friend while the professional eliminates the fiberglass contamination in your home. Once the professional has completed the cleanup, you can safely return home. If no relative or friend is available, you could stay in a hotel or a tent in the backyard, depending on the weather. You would be amazed at how soon you would move back into your home and so a little inconvenience is nothing to experience for long term health. What if your home is rented?
What If It Is A Rental Property?
If you live in a rental property, the landlord has to take over the property. You would then report the problem to the landlord and leave it up to your landlord to hire a professional to clean up the fiberglass insulation contamination thoroughly. It is not your responsibility as a renter. However, the same thing is true for you as the homeowner. You have to find somewhere else to live for the time being. It is just not safe to remain in the same living space until it is cleaned of the fiberglass insulation contaminants. Now, how do you go about finding the right company?
Finding The Right Professional
Whether you or the landlord, a professional has to be hired to clean the house. It is best that you or the landlord interview different fiberglass insulation cleaning companies to decide on the most experienced and most reputable one. Be sure to ask pertinent questions such as years of experience, services offered, and estimated cost. Don’t let the price dictate your decision. This is your health, and you want to make sure that the cleaning is done correctly. OK, let’s now go into explaining fiberglass insulation and what it is so you can get a better understanding of its threat to your health.
What is Fiberglass Insulation?
Fiberglass is a synthetic material. It can be found in several products used in workplaces and homes. It can be found in appliances, furnace filters, and insulation and roofing materials. If you were to contact it, your skin, nose, eyes, and throat could be irritated. If it is airborne and you are exposed to high levels of fiberglass, it could aggravate your bronchitis or asthmatic condition. The drawback is that there are no medical tests, which could identify whether you have had exposure to fiberglass or not. However, once you have symptoms, it is best to seek medical attention after evacuating the property. What other instances can you become exposed to it?
Instances of Exposure
If you work in the renovation, maintenance, auto body repair, fiberglass manufacturing, or construction, you could be exposed to fiberglass insulation, which is a health hazard. Your eyes, lung, and skin would be the first to experience exposure. Symptoms would involve difficulty in breathing and irritation of the skin and eyes. Once these fibers are airborne, there is not much you can do to protect yourself. However, unless disturbed, the fiberglass insulation should stay in place. If you work closely with it, such as directly installing fiberglass insulation, then you will be most exposed. Where is it used?
Places Where It Is Used
Fiberglass insulation is used in the home or business to keep heat, wind, and cold out. It also insulates air conditioning, keeping it from escaping from the building. The material consists of fibers, which are derived from glass. They are not healthy for anyone to inhale. One thing you can do if you work with fiberglass insulation is to wear protective gear to prevent it from getting on your hands, in the lungs, and eyes. This includes goggles and overalls. Once you are done working, you should dispose of the protective gear. Let us walk through several steps on how to approach this?
How To Clean Up Fiberglass Insulation Dust
Step 1
If you are working in a fiberglass insulation environment, the first thing you should do is to dress in long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, heavy work boots, and heavy work gloves. Make sure to wear a half-face or full face respirator, which has the HEPA cartridge attached so you can prevent insulation dust from getting into your lungs. If this is in the home, you should try to find the dust source, which usually would be the air duct. The entire air duct system should be replaced because it will be difficult to remove all of the fiberglass insulation dust entirely.
Step 2
For construction workers or if you are doing a home renovation, use a water hose on the insulation to minimize the dust. Once wet, it is easier to pull the insulation from the ceiling, walls or floor of the structure you are trying to remove. Be sure to do it in sections.
Step 3
Once the insulation has been pulled out, gather it up and put it in plastic trash bags to discard at the local landfill or incinerator plant. If you are vacuuming the dust, be sure to use a HEPA vacuum cleaner. The vacuum should be heavy duty to suck the insulation dust out of the wall efficiently and smoothly. Regular vacuums cannot do this.
Step 4
If any pieces of furniture cannot be cleaned, you may need to throw them out. This might include upholstered furniture, carpets, and bedding. Seal those items in a trash bag so it won’t spread.
Step 5
You will need to go back into the house must be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. You can use a damp rag to wipe them down as you pay attention to crevices.
Step 6
Sweep the area to get rid of small fragments, which you should also place into the trash bag, closing it securely and throwing it away.
Step 7
The clothes you wear during the cleanup may also be contaminated, so it is crucial to take the necessary precautions. Find a place to get them cleaned or put them in a trash bag and throw them away.
Step 8
Take the bags of fiberglass insulation dust to a landfill to discard of it. You can use your own building trash can, but be sure the trash bags are securely tied. How do you approach the attic, which is known to have fiberglass insulation?
The Attic
The attic will require intense cleaning and, in most cases removing the insulation, eliminating the vents and sealing the air ducts, and using HEPA filtration for fresh air ventilation. Have a professional come in to look at the extent of the project and give a quote. It is important to remove the entire attic insulation to eliminate the dust and fibrous material. This is something you should make sure that the team of cleaning professionals is doing. By so doing, it will improve air quality.
In Summary
To summarize, you can try to carry out the fiberglass insulation dust cleaning yourself, but to do it safely, this might require a professional who knows how to execute it. With the help of a professional on how to clean up fiberglass insulation dust, you protect your health and give yourself the confidence to know it will allow you to live in a healthy and safe environment.
