Hepa Vacuum Cleaner Asbestos
If used for asbestos abatement, what is the difference between a $700 vacuum cleaner and a $120 one?
Considering that both are equipped with HEPA filters. I have seen a very wide price range on the market, going from the $120 shopvac model at Lowe’s to the $700 Linevacer speciality cleaner. Is there a real difference between them?
Asbestos abatement is a serious subject. I am a licensed asbestos building inspector and have studied the subject.
I also have a Lowe’s shop vac with a HEPA filter, and a small Eureka HEPA filter canister vac for the house. I don’t think either of them would be appropriate for major asbestos cleanups. I do use a Eureka to clean up after I’ve taken samples of suspect materials, but that is a relatively small amount of material we’re talking about.
For one thing, the hose of a typical shop vac is corrugated, and could harbor asbestos fibers after the machine is turned off. The Linevacer has a smooth hose which is static-dissipating. You should plan on washing the equipment well with amended water after use (amended water can be any water with cleaning solution in it that reduces the water tension so that the water can coat the asbestos particles better. I like Formula 409….) I would rather wash a smooth static-dissipating hose than try to clean out a corrugated shopvac hose.
Furthermore, the only bags I found for my shop vac were intended for drywall finishing situations. The bags won’t match the level of the filter for grabbing small particles. I don’t know what kind of bags the Linevacer uses. It looks like there are disposable intercept micro filters which you can toss out with the debris.
Good luck, and be careful!
April 29th, 2010 at 12:34 am
: How to Handle Asbestos in Your Home http://livelaws.com/how-to-handle-asbestos-in-your-home.html
May 26th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Chemotherapy is also an option, in combination with surgery. I have a patient on cisplatin and alimta right now, and he’s showing some response to the treatment.