Asbestos was used in some building & household appliances as gasket material, insulating material, or fire-proofing material.

 

Page top photo: an antique refrigerator that was investigated for asbestos content in gaskets or other components.

This article series provides a master list of the forms in which asbestos was used, a list of known asbestos-containing materials, and links to detailed articles about individual asbestos-containing products & materials found in buildings and in a wide range of products used in both home and industry.

Q&A on Identifying Asbestos in Home Appliances

These questions and answers were posted originally at ASBESTOS USE in APPLIANCES - be sure to review the guidance there.

Watch out: Don't panic about possible asbestos in a toaster, iron, or refrigerator. In most instances even when asbestos was used in a friable form it was enclosed within appliance walls or components. house dust are fabric fibers and skin cells.

Is this 1960's oven insulation asbestos?

I am currently restoring a 1960's commercial stove with gas oven. The oven is insulated with a soft, pure white wool like substance. Could this be asbestos? I would think glass fiber was not used for high heat applications On 2026-05-06 by John

And an image of the appliance itself

Reply InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - White Fiberglass

@john,

That sure looks like white fiberglass to me.

It does not look like any asbestos insulation product I've seen.

Daniel Friedman

Mermite can asbestos insulation on m1941 and m1944 food insulated containers

Hello, I am a bit of a WW2 era collector and have a couple of questions around what would be deemed households items.

Do you guys have any information on the use of asbestos insulation on m1941 and m1944 food insulated containers (commonly called mermite cans).

They are basically giant thermal containers for keep food hot or cold. You often see these for sale, just wondering if they are indeed safe to use. On 2026-03-01 by Doug

Reply by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Doug,

Some years ago when we researched the use of asbestos in coolers and refrigerators we found some reports of its use. Mermite itself is a term that simply referred to cooking container. I'm doing further research but so far haven't found an indication of exactly what insulation was used in those containers.

In any event if we container is intact it should be safe to use.

Daniel Friedman

Is this walk-in freezer ceiling insulation asbestos?

Hey, currently working near an old walk in freezer. This stuff is haning from the ceiling. Cant find any tags but highly suspect. On 2025-09-03 by Mike A

Answer by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Mike A,

That brown fibrous material certainly looks like fiberboard or wood or plant fiber.

The pink material is almost certainly owns Corning fiberglass insulation.

Daniel Friedman

by Mike A

@InspectApedia Publisher, Mr. Friedman.

Thank do so much for your quick response. As always I am aware that the only way to be 100% certain is to get lab tested.

This website has been an invaluable tool. I cant thank you enough for the amount of work and effort that goes into this site.

On a side note, the information contained here has helped keep workers at our site safe. We were removing coatings with no respiratory protection.

Got hired. Week later saw that process and shut it down. Did an analysis and found it was ATEX ST1, along with 10% of generated particles sub 10 micron. The response I got from health and safety was the classic " but we've always done this for years"

Got LEV unites and full PARP and white suit setup now. But needless to say this site has helped me realize that dust is deadly.

As always, thank you again. Attached is another photo.

by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Mike A,

Thank you very much for your really nice note. Having worked hard on this material for a long time we are especially grateful when you find it useful and trusted.

I too have done actual real work at sites like the one you described so you can be sure that I share your interest and concerns.

Daniel Friednan

Is this RV Refrigerator Insulation Asbestos?

I am cutting up my 1999 model Dometic RV refrigerator to remove it from my RV.
Inside the walls of the fridge there is the typical yellow foam insulation, but this also 1/2" of this white, crumbling material and I am afraid it might be asbestos. I applied heat to it and it does not melt nor burn - What could it be? On 2024-12-07 by Roland

Answer by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Roland,

We also discussed this question y email. The material in your photo looks like a crumbly foam insulation - not something that would normally contain asbestos.

When we add to that that your RV Refrigerator dates from 1999, provided it was made or sold in the U.S. that's well after the year (ca 1986) that we'd last have expected US products like appliances to make use of asbestos.

Nevertheless you should:

Watch out: when demolishing or chopping anything apart that makes for fine dust there can be respiratory hazards. Use dust control, appropriate respirator etc. and clean up with damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming to be most safe.

Is this oven door insulation asbestos?

Would this be fiberglass insulation? The handle to our oven broiler comes off and reveals this behind it. Oven is from ten years ago, so I would think its fiberglass, but I wanted to be sure. On 2023-02-27 by Anonymous

Reply by InspectApedia Editor (mod) - fiberglass

@Anonymous,

I agree that looks like fiberglass insulation. And if it's only 10 years old, it's well past the allowed use of asbestos.

by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Editor , thank you! When was asbestos use generally discontinued in appliances?

by InspectApedia Editor (mod)

@Anonymous,

The last-use date for asbestos in household appliances varies by country. In the U.S. 1986 would be a reasonable guess.

by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Editor , just wondering if 1986 as a cutoff date would apply to small appliances, as well, like waffle irons. We have one from 2000. Thanks!

by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Anonymous,

It's not likely that a U.S. manufacturer is including asbestos in a contemporary toaster, but to be more-accurate you'll want to read

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS BANNED vs PERMITTED U.S. 2023

 

Four types of asbestos found in appliances

There are 4 types of asbestos I know of that were used. They are Chrysotile, Amosite, Tremolite, and Crocidolite. I am rather disappointed that these articles don't say what type of asbestos (Chrysotile, Crocidolite, Amosite, Tremolite, etc) was put in vintage appliances, especially heating elements.

My thoughts are, if there is asbestos in a vintage appliance, you better hope and pray that it's Chrysotile, and it would be good to find out if it's Chrysotile, or if it's the toxic kinds like Amosite or especially the kind you definitely don't ever want, Crocidolite. On 2022-07-18 by mike

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod): summary of how to handle asbestos found in appliances

@mike,

Thank you for the suggestion; when we can make that identification we'll be sure to add it here. Frankly it's been difficult enough to identify asbestos-use inspecific appliances. Often that's accomplished by reviewing the patent disclosure. For example a patent disclosure for an oven door gasket - but that text typically simply says "asbestos" or "asbestos gasket" or "asbestos rope".

While we agree that some forms of asbestos are more-dangerous than others, knowing the asbestos type ought not, in our view, change the actions appropriate for the appliance:

1. In most appliances the asbestos material is encapsulated and harmless, and best left alone

2. Where exposed, avoid damaging, shredding, making asbestos dust and debris of the material

3. When in doubt, often the cost of replacing a small appliance is less than that of testing its gasket or insulation to identify the kind of asbestos.

We welcome any further details you can offer.

Asbestos in Australian boat refrigerator?

I have a boat built in 1953 in Australia that has a refrigerator in it. I need to cut holes in the walls of the fridge and wonder if there could be asbestos insulation behind the walls. Is it possible that asbestos was used to insulate marine fridges from this period? On 2022-12-07 by Mark caulfield -

Reply by InspectApedia (Editor) - possibly, encapsulated (safe) inside the refrigerator walls -

@Mark caulfield,

A 1953 refrigerator made in Australia might contain asbestos and insulation and conceivably in a door gasket.

Watch out: don't go drilling into the walls of an old refrigerator that could have been insulated with asbestos without having a representative insulation sample tested for asbestos - OR - treat the material as PACM - Presumed Asbestos Containing Material to be safe.

You can only post one photo per comment but you can use as many comments as you need.

Asbestos in a 1980's GE Electric Clock-Radio

Would asbestos have been used in a General Electric alarm clock radio from the 80s? Thanks! On 2022-11-03 by Anonymous -

Reply by InspectApedia (Editor) - asbestos in General Electric alarm clock radio from the 80s

@Anonymous,

Possibly as an internal heat shield if the radio uses tubes otherwise it seems unlikely

 

Asbestos in Brother microwave/oven combo insulation?

We have a very old Brother combination oven (i.e.microwave/convection oven). My husband took the back off it yesterday and it revealed some fibrous insulating material.

Could this be asbestos? We think the combination oven may be around 30 years old, maybe even older. - On 2022-01-09 by Stephanie Robinson -

Reply by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - look for fiberglass

@Stephanie Robinson,

Possible but unlikely; one cannot say whether or not your oven insulation contains asbestos based just on a text message.

A photo would be helpful.

Most likely you're looking at fiberglass.

See FIBERGLASS INSULATION IDENTIFICATION & PROPERTIES 

Asbestos in an Oven Insulation?

Hi there! Second time using your expertise! First was regarding possible asbestos in insulation panels in a pre-fab Russian house imported to northern Italy.

This time we have an oven in an apartment in Switzerland that has started moulting!

On one side you can see this material that I presume is insulation. Is it asbestos or dangerous?

Many thanks in advance. Mark - On 2021-08-18 by Mark -

Reply by inspectapedia.com.moderator - Fiberglass insulation in Swiss oven

@Mark,

I remember the Russian - Italian house - that was pretty special.

About your photo: I see what looks like it is almost certainly fiberglass insulation.

Followup by Mark

@inspectapedia.com.moderator,

Many thanks once again for your quick reply and for sharing your knowledge of such things.

Mark

Is there asbestos in the parts of my PC (Personal Computer)?

Do PC (computer) parts contain abestos On 2020-03-11 by steven -

Reply by danjoefriedman (mod)

Asbestos used inside of a personal computer would be entirely unlikely unless you have an antique piece of equipment built before the mid-1980s

Asbestos in a 1960's GE Oven Light Fixture

Does an oven light gasket from a 1960's GE in wall oven contain absbestos? It is a gray felt like material. On 2019-12-30 by Matthew -

Reply by (mod) -

Its possible but it should be pretty easy to make an educated guess by simply looking at the material: some alternatives like fiberglass or cotton felt are usually easily identified by the nakedeye.

In all events, an oven light gasket won't present a detectable asbestos hazard in your building unless you grind it up.

Asbestos insulation in antique ice box ?

I have a 1900's icebox. I removed the exterior metal pieces to expose the wood, but did not mess with the insulated doors. On 2019-08-11 by Sherry Noland -

Could I have been exposed to asbestos? Is it safe to stain and repaint to put in my home?

Reply by (mod) - safe to use an antique ice box if you're not disassembling it

Sherry

No one can make a scientifically sound assessment of asbestos exposure from an e-text: we don't know if asbestos was present, in what form, nor how much, if at all, it was disturbed.

However as a general remark, if you removed and disposed of insulated doors that were intact then it's not likely that you were exposed to detectable amounts of whatever insulation was involved.

 

Asbestos in Morphy Richards Senior Iron Washers?

Did Murphy Richards senior iron have asbestos washers. On 2019-03-11 by Mag -

Reply by (mod) -

Mag

An interesting historical asbestos question. I don't know the answer.

To find a credible authoritative answer to your question you would need to identify the manufacturer of the iron and then we might have success by doing a simple patent search.

Above we've included photos of a Morphy Richard CA75 Electric iron as advertised for sale on ebay. I don't see any accessible washers. It would also be helpful to know the estimated age of the iron and also if you can confirm that your Morphy Richard iron was made or used outside of the UK.

Asbestos in a 1970 Corning cooktop

does a 1970 corning cooktop have asbestos insulation On 2018-09-10 by dh -

Reply by (mod) -

Possibly as heat resistant insulation on electric wiring.

I can't rule out other insulation but I have no record of it.

Was asbestos used in old wood fired cook stoves

Where was asbestos used in the old wood cook stoves? I have a 1909 Enterprise Majestic Wood Cookstove that I want to refurbish and would like to know before I start what I can expect to find.

Reply by (mod) ) - 1909 Enterprise Majestic Wood Cookstove asbestos

Barb

If asbestos is found in old wood stoves, including wood stoves used for cooling, I'd expect it to appear as an ingredient in stove cement between stove sections (used to stop air leaks and thus to permit control of stove draft), and possibly on some later stoves as an asbestos rope gasket.

Show us a photo of your stove and closeups of suspect gaskets and sealants as those would be instructive.

To know for certain about a 100+ year old material you'd need to have a sample tested - or simply treat it as PACM - presumed asbestos containing material.

ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST is there if you need it

Asbestos in a 1960s or 1970s Kenmore Freezer?

Is their asbestos in a 1969 or 1970 kenmore freezer. I need to chop it up and get rid of it as it will not fit up the stairs from the downstairs. Thank you in advance. On 2018-05-01 by Pat -

Reply by (mod) -

It's not likely. But I'm not sure how you're going to chop up a freezer. If you mean you're going to cut the metal sections apart. My suggestion would be at your first cut that you inspect the insulation. Most likely you'll find fiberglass.

Watch out: unless you can easily identify fiberglass you should avoid chopping or hacking any old appliance whose insulation could be asbestos.

See FIBERGLASS INSULATION IDENTIFICATION & PROPERTIES 

...

Continue reading at ASBESTOS USE in APPLIANCES - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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