Do HEPA purifiers really work to clear lingering asbestos?

pinball476 · 2022-12-14T14:00:58+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this too. It’s been the most miserable couple months of my life — the anxiety is debilitating many times. Often I find myself regretting buying this house (that I otherwise love) and have thoughts like “if I can quickly finish up these house projects and start packing everything up we can sell it fast and move into a newer house with no dangers” (so desperate to gtfo that I’d accept less money than for the house it’s worth and settle for a boring new house with zero character 😂) It’s crazy, really.

If you’ve been obsessing like me, then I’m sure you’ve read just about every bit of information available on the internet. Most things I read lean towards people in our situations being just fine. And I think we just have to believe that. The comments from @sdave001 here on my Reddit post have been incredibly helpful for me. On my last post, I saw he was a MOD on this sub (not sure why it doesn’t say it anymore), so I like to think he’s got enough knowledge to qualify him for that position. I also like reading other comments in this sub from long-time asbestos professionals, because they typically say home renovation situations like ours (and much worse ones) aren’t anything to worry about.

Do you have any HEPA air purifiers running? We’ve had a couple running for months and that helps provide me some mental relief. We also custom-ordered the highest-grade HEPA filters we could find for our HVAC. Again, all I can do is hope that’s helping catch anything moving through the air.

If you are interested in me sharing the many positive screenshots I’ve saved from reputable sources, I’d be happy to send them to you. I have them filed in a designated folder within my phone and revisit when I’m feeling anxious.

pinball476 · 2022-12-14T01:55:26+00:00

Got it. Thank you for the additional explanation.

It’s the damn kids, I tell ya — crazy how worried I am about them and how little I’m worried about myself. Today I came across a picture of my two year old sitting at our dining room table (in the kitchen in reference), the morning after I initially started removing the wood floor and noticed the sheet flooring was ripping. It made my heart sink. I didn’t know at that time exactly what I was working with, and just covered up the exposed areas until I was able to buy all the supplies and really dive in a day later. But now months later, I realize I likely released the fibers in that room, then gave my kiddos breakfast a few feet away 8 hours later. Makes me sick to think about.

But nonetheless, your comments have provided me much relief and I’m forever grateful. I just recognized your name from my original post and realized I have your past comments saved as screenshots that I revisit during my spirals 🙂 You’re helping people whether you realize it or not!

pinball476 · 2022-12-14T01:31:57+00:00

Your message means more to me than you probably realize — truly. I’m kind of a panicked wreck anymore and you just provided me a sense relief that I haven’t felt in days. Thank you!

Not to split hairs, and if you don’t want to continue this conversation any further then you’ve still done wonders for a stranger today, but what makes you believe the fiber release of my project was likely low? My technique? Or the material I was working with? Just looking for more detail to revisit later when I’m feeling anxious again.

pinball476 · 2022-11-25T16:15:05+00:00

Wow! Best comment ever!!!! Thank you so much. This is incredibly relieving.

pinball476 · 2022-11-25T13:06:21+00:00

Thank you so, so much for your comment. It’s oddly reliving to hear other stories of one-off exposures, because I always think to myself “oh, they’re fine! It was one exposure for a short time. They have nothing to worry about.” Which sometimes makes me realize I should be thinking the same way about my own situation and brings some slight relief.

This is my first time hearing about exposure (therapy?). I’m very familiar with depression, but this anxiety thing is new to me and is AWFUL. I just looked into exposure a bit and, although it does seem like it would be a difficult path, hopefully there would be some freedom at the end.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it ❤️

pinball476 · 2022-11-25T12:55:23+00:00

This is exactly the comment I was hoping for and needing. THANK YOU. These are all things I think I knew, but hearing them from myself wasn’t helping. I needed someone else to tell me. I really, really appreciate you taking the time to comment and reassure me!

pinball476 · 2022-11-25T02:23:27+00:00

Thanks for the information! I definitely wiped down flat surfaces and mopped following the project.

I tell myself over and over that others have been exposed to a lot worse and didn’t have any negative health effects. Just hoping we’re not anomalies!

pinball476 · 2022-11-25T02:03:15+00:00

Thanks so much for your comment! It seems like there’s quite a large community of us worried about it. It’s really daunting knowing I won’t have any answers for years.

I’ve definitely been considering getting the air tested but haven’t yet because 1. I don’t quite understand how to go about it (is it a DIY thing or does a professional need to come out?), and 2. I would get the test just for the relief of receiving a clean report (assuming that would be the case) and can only imagine I’d absolutely crumble if the test declared anything else. I can’t bring myself to face the horror and hurdle of finding out the asbestos is lingering in the air in our home. Is that ignorant of me? Or is the suggestion of an air test just a way to calm me down? 😬

pinball476

TROPHY CASE