Asbestos is most commonly found in homes built before 1990. It is a mineral fiber that was often used for insulation and as a fire-retardant. The air quality dangers of asbestos usually occur when the material is sanded, chipped or disturbed.

Health problems caused by exposure to asbestos may not occur until 20 to 30 years later. These health problems include asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is a potentially fatal condition where the lungs become irreversibly scarred from the fibrous asbestos material.  Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the abdominal cavity and lining of the chest. It is illegal to remove asbestos on your own. Prudent Living will remove asbestos from your home using all of the most up-to-date safety precautions.

At Prudent Living, we want all homes to be airtight for maximum energy efficiency. However, while airtight homes save energy, they also trap stale air filled with allergens and pollutants. Every airtight home needs a good ventilation system. Two ventilation systems we install are heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and energy recovery ventilator (ERV).  These two systems provide fresh, clean air in today’s energy-efficient homes. The HRV system pulls fresh air into the home and expels stale air. The ERV system transfers some moisture in the humid air stream in the home to the dryer air stream outside. Both provide fresh, clean air free of allergens, odors, and pollutants, resulting in a healthy environment for the residents of the home. Installing either an HRV system or an ERV system is an economical way to assure steady flow of clean, fresh air in your home, without compromising the heat and energy savings of today’s high-efficiency insulated homes.

Mold can grow on just about any organic surface that is moist.  In your home, molds can grow on wood, carpet and insulation, affecting air quality by creating allergens and toxic substances–even causing asthma attacks.  Limiting excessive moisture in your home will limit mold growth. A Prudent Living energy audit of your home or business can help you discover areas of mold and other problems that can arise from a building losing heat.

Vermiculite is a mineral that expands with heat. It is used for high temperature insulation in attics and walls, and fire proofing of steal and pipes.  Most vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990 was mined in the same location as deposits of asbestos. Vermiculite itself is not hazardous, but if your home was built before 1990, there may be asbestos in your vermiculite insulation.If you are concerned about asbestos in your insulation do not remove it on your own; contact Prudent Living for a consultation.