Do you live in an older home where the heating pipes are covered in a material that looks like this? If so, it is likely that the material is asbestos. Don”t panic! As long as the asbestos insulation is not peeling and remains undisturbed, it does not present a health hazard. Attempting to remove asbestos without a professional who is certified to remove and dispose of this material is not only illegal, but can put you and your family’s health at risk.
If you are planning to sell your home with insulation that resembles asbestos , my advice would be to leave the covering as it exists. If the buyer’s inspector raises this concern, you will address this at that time. Many sellers will contractually agree to remove the asbestos by a certified asbestos contractor prior to the closing. Additionally, an air quality test should provided to verify that there there are no health risks in the area where removed. To learn more about asbestos in your home, read the following article published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.