If you suspect one of your properties contains asbestos, it may be a good time to check with your insurance agent. Some or all of the forthcoming work may be covered by your property or homeowner’s insurance.
Asbestos can be all around us (walls, flooring, ceilings, pipe insulation, and even things like furniture that have been in the ACM environment for too long). The good news is that asbestos isn’t dangerous unless it’s disturbed.
Most people don’t know that something like a burst pipe, a flooded basement, a bad do-it-yourself project, or even a small house fire can disturb ACM (asbestos-containing materials) comprising much of your property and can release toxic matter into the air.
How Does Property Insurance Help with Abatement?
Many people don’t really know if cleaning up after disasters that disturb ACM is covered by their insurance. Asbestos abatement & removal is something that may be a part of your insurance plan. You might want to dig out your homeowner’s policy and see if these kinds of things are covered, before speaking to an insurance agent.
If you suffer a disaster on any of your properties, large or small, you should have the property tested by a licensed asbestos consultant and, if asbestos is found, you may need to have it removed by a fully qualified asbestos abatement contractor.
If you are unsure of whether or not your property insurance covers a specific service or contractor, speak to your insurance agent. The last thing you want to do is hire a full-scale abatement team only to find out after the fact that you will not be reimbursed.
Asbestos abatement seems scary, but it really isn’t as cumbersome or expensive as most people think. And it certainly isn’t as scary as what the asbestos itself can do to you and the ones you love. In many cases, some or all of the cost would be covered by your insurer.
But that’s why NOW is a great time to check your policy and find out for sure.
Illinois Environmental Contractors Association Resources
For more information on finding a local contractor to assist with professional asbestos abatement, check the resources below: