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Have used 4 mil alum. foil tape from Nashua (now avail. at Home Depot and wholesalers). Adhesive is definitely tacky, hard to remove.and
does not seem to dry out. Suggest doubling at corners. Had some in place for five years with no dry-out problems. Anyone have any longer term experience??
Seems that most cloth duct tape adhesive drys out and eventually comes off.
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I finally spent the weekend seeling my ductwork with the RCD-6 and ran into a few problems. My house is a ranch and there is one beam spanning the basement to support the floor joists. One side of the main heating ducts, where the little ducts branch off of, is right up against this beam and I am unable to seal the joints along the beam side and also the return ducts are almost directly above the beam and are not accessible either, any suggestions as to how I can properly seel them?
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I know this item was discussed a few months back but dumb me didn't take notes so I need to ask again. What is the latest on resealing air ducts in an existing, 16 year old, Forced Air Heating System? If I can avoid it I don't want to take the system apart and rebuild it, just seal the existing runs.
*Seal the joints with RCD 6 - available at http://www.efi.org. Longitudinal joints don't need sealing.
*Bill:Thanks for the info. The rules change a little with remodels so I am not sure if foil tape or mastic is the best way to go. I did look up the mastic per your post. Due to shipping I willlook for it a little closer. Many of the locals feel that foilbacked tape is better for remodels unless you are making new runs.Just proves that there is no one right way and we just give it our best shot.
*FredL has posted he has found a similar mastic - same astm standard - at home depot.Don't know foil tape as it relates to duct tape - home energy did a test of duct tape and found it very lacking; just read a clip that Lawrence Livermore Labs tested duct tape and determined it was very good for about everything EXCEPT sealing ducts.I like hydronic heating - easier to tell if it leaks or not.
*Bill & FredB. There is an UL approved foil duct tape.The number indicates the heat range tape is useful for. GL.
*Re: TapeThe local gurus favor mastic of one brand or another for new construction and the foil tape I mentioned for remodels where the old ducting is not being changed. Of course I didn't know this before I posted. I just knew there had to be a better way than mastic for remodels and remembered the discussion a little while ago.The two brands recommended are 3M and Permacel and apparently are aluminium foil with adhesive on one side. There are at least two thicknesses and a variety of widths.Thanks for the leads.
*Have used 4 mil alum. foil tape from Nashua (now avail. at Home Depot and wholesalers). Adhesive is definitely tacky, hard to remove.anddoes not seem to dry out. Suggest doubling at corners. Had some in place for five years with no dry-out problems. Anyone have any longer term experience??Seems that most cloth duct tape adhesive drys out and eventually comes off.