Prestcold model YM1

Hello All, not sure if a Prestcold model YM1 counts as part of the history of refrigeration, but it looks fairly historic to me.

I have recently taken over a property that has one installed and am looking for any information on it.

It looks to be built in and is about the size of a wardrobe (picture attached).

It looks like it hasn't worked for years and I am looking to remove it, but does anyone know what it is likely to be made of and if there could be anything hazardous in it. (Was asbestos used in fridges?)

Thanks, Paul

The insulation should be OK but the refrigerant is now of a banned type and as such classed as hazardous waste.

If you are trying to dispose of it I would contact your local recycler.

Sorry, forgot myself, welcome to the forum.

Some of those early coldrooms had asbestos looking panels on the inside, you may need to get a specialist in to test them to see.

Also check the roof, they used to have a sheet of asbestos on them.

Apart from that and the gas in the system, the insulation is probable fiber glass.

Chillin:):)

trying to cast my mind back now,its sectional as behind those diamond shapes should be coach screws that hold it all together, it may be tin sheet inside but not sure now,its easy to tell anyway, i would of thought the gas would have been upraded at some time , possibly R12and should be a drop through the roof all in one unit or part of the roof panel [pre zanotti],so you should be able to take it apart just like a modern camlock room,put it on a pallet and take it to somone like simms metals for disposal. "BUT" do not cut or damage any thermostat cappilarys or box thermometers as they will contain sulpher dioxide or similar.

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Originally Posted by old gas bottle

"BUT" do not cut or damage any thermostat cappilarys or box thermometers as they will contain sulpher dioxide or similar.

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The voice of experience Eh!
:)
taz.

yep ! those old thermostats were a killer, the phail was about a mile long and held about 10kg of nasty gas,[ slight exageration] ,you only got a gobfull of that once,after that it was watch out !

those kit rooms were a bit rare even then.:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by old gas bottle

yep ! those old thermostats were a killer, the phail was about a mile long and held about 10kg of nasty gas,[ slight exageration] ,you only got a gobfull of that once,after that it was watch out !

those kit rooms were a bit rare even then.:eek:

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It lingered for ages as well.

taz.

The internal walls were made from stipple glaze and will have aspestos in it. Also the top of the roof will be made of aspestos. Take care when removing the thermostat do not break the phile.

watch the stat might b sulphur may b asbestos panels and possibly cork insulation weighs a ton

pauls,can u post a pic up of the inside for us,interesed in what this is,is dosent look like a wood and asbestos one to me allthough it may be,but i think its tin/tin as they say.;)

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. I found some old papers in the fridge that had the name of the company that installed a condenser in it in 1977 (can't tell if that is when the whole fridge was installed or if it was a replacement).

The company is still in business and are going to visit to take a look at it to see what needs to be done to remove it.

I'll take a picture of the inside and post it up (may not be until the weekend).

Agree with all the above... The interior is STIPPLE (note spelling) which is essentially asbestos with a washable interior surface. OGB is correct, diamond shaped SS tabs hide coach screws which will dismantle the item in sections, so no need to worry about the asbestos as you will not be cutting it as you dismantle.

If you really can't leave it in place as a larder/wine/beer store then you must dispose of it properly - seek advice - local council (best of luck).

There is however no inherent danger presented by the item as it stands, and any reputable refrigeration engineer could install a new CFC free cooling system to the box and you would have years of useful service from it which if bought in today's money would cost about 5 or 6 thousand £

The PHILE, PHAIL, FILE, or even FIAL... is actually a Phial as in test tube terms. It is a capillary line with a bulb at one end, and yes, do be careful not to puncture it

I have two of these in my new garage, what was the result of the original blogger's finding?
Is it asbestos?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fridge doctor

Agree with all the above... The interior is STIPPLE (note spelling) which is essentially asbestos with a washable interior surface. OGB is correct, diamond shaped SS tabs hide coach screws which will dismantle the item in sections, so no need to worry about the asbestos as you will not be cutting it as you dismantle.

If you really can't leave it in place as a larder/wine/beer store then you must dispose of it properly - seek advice - local council (best of luck).

There is however no inherent danger presented by the item as it stands, and any reputable refrigeration engineer could install a new CFC free cooling system to the box and you would have years of useful service from it which if bought in today's money would cost about 5 or 6 thousand £

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well it is asbestos for sure,the colour will tell you wich one,grey or white,i,am very interested in any pics of the condenser unit and may be interested in buying them for prosterity.;)