This photo shows a piece of material known as a vibration damper. This material is designed to prevent furnace vibration noises from being transferred along the metal distribution ducts to the outlet registers in the living areas. Before around 1965, sometimes the material used could have contained asbestos. It would appear similar to the material shown in the photo. Lab testing of this type of material has found asbestos content as high as 65%. Homeowners and homebuyers should be aware that even if a furnace is "newer", the distribution ducts might be older and the vibration damper could be one of those that contains asbestos. Since the vibration damper has air passing over it, it's possible asbestos fibers might become airborne and distributed through the outlet registers into the living areas.

Photo taken by Dennis Robitaille of Able Home Inspection, Inc. Saugus, MA