Recommendations for fix the hole in my ductwork???

[1Garageman]

How should I fix this hole in my ductwork?

The other day I was doing some electrical work and happened to be up on a ladder when the furnace kicked on. And all of the sudden I felt air coming out of somewhere. And I look down there is a hole about 7" in diameter in my duct work. Looks like the idiots that installed it didn't cover it up.

So how would you recommend I fix it?

My neighbor recommended getting a duct sheet that I guess you can buy, screw it over it with these special screws and then use the duct tape on it to seal it. Sounds good?

 

[bonneyman]

Just get a piece of sheet metal that's bigger than the hole, screw it on, and seal around the edges with some mastic paste (very similar to rubberized roof coating, with added fibers for strength). The "special" screws are called self-tapping or sheet metal screws. Thay have a hardened drill-like tip that drills a hole in the metal that the threads can grip and then pull the screw in.
All of the supplies should be available at your local home improvement center.

 

[Chuckw]

That would work fine. I would get some self tapping sheet metal screws with a bolt type head. Make sure that I had the right socket head for my drill (new tool opportunity here, might need the whole set!) screw it in place on top, and then seal it with the GOOD aluminum duct tape, it's thick and really seals, probably cause it's made for this.

 

[e-tek]

^^^^That's what I'd do!

 

[PaulR]

Holy Hole!! How long has it been like that??

 

[mrbelvedere]

Hard to believe someone left it like that.....

I'd go with the patch idea as well, there is also such a thing as duct cement, like caulk, meant for just this purpose.

You can buy flat metal sheeting at all the hardware chains, make sure to use aluminum or galvanized....plain steel, though cheap, will rust quickly due to the condensation cycles of the ductwork.

A couple screws...no need for anything fancy(yes there are 'special' screws), but I'd avoid 'duct' tape in the traditional sense, because it really doesn't last. Where you find ducting in the store will also be silver-backed tape...that stuff is the bomb.....lasts forever!

Hope this help....mr b

 

[1Garageman]

Holy Hole!! How long has it been like that??

We bought that house in 09 and it was built in 07. I am curious to see how much how electric and gas bill will go down because of this. That is a big hole with a lot of heat escaping. I just couldn't believe it!!!

 

[1Garageman]

I am going to stop my Lowes on my way home and buy the stuff I need. I am going to make a list off of THIS list you guys are making for me.

Thanks a lot by the way

I will take some pics while I do it and put them up here also. I'll have you guys see it and make sure I do it right. Hate to say it, but it sounds pretty easy. With your guys help telling me what to buy, and how to do it

 

[larry_g]

We bought that house in 09 and it was built in 07. I am curious to see how much how electric and gas bill will go down because of this. That is a big hole with a lot of heat escaping. I just couldn't believe it!!!

I doubt it you'll see much change. That vent just below the hole in the first picture says that this is in a heated space so you will heat the area slower but the energy will still be used. If you keep that area cold then you will have to insulate the ducting to keep the heat in the duct and directed to the areas you want to heat. I would also recommend that you check all the heat registers in the house. There may be some that should have been connected to this outlet and never were. Got any cold rooms in the house? Look to see if a pipe was intended to run between those two joists to a room on the other side of the basement ( I assume this is a basement) where a room is, was , or intended to be.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jackfre]

Do not use duct tape. It is good for almost anything but for whcih it is named. No kidding! Get the piece of sheet metal. Apply a bead of real duct seal to the main, apply and screw down the blank. Duct seal manuf are names like hardcast, RCD, kKingco, Polymer Adhesives. Don't forget to insulate the pipe when done.

Studies have been done on duct tape, I think it was Home Energy mag several years ago who tested it. It is good for a few months, at which time it dries up and blow away.

 

[Harley Guy]

Looking forward to seeing your pics.

 

[rickairmedic]

Garageman if you go with the metal ducttape take a bondo card or something similar and burnish it down after puttting it on . This will help it seal tighter and it will stayput . Cloth ( duck tape ) ( notice the correct spelling ) on the other hand will not last anytime at all especially durring the heating season as the heat will break down the glue on it .


Rick

 

[1Garageman]

Here is my list so far below in the picture. But I am not sure which type of tape to pick?????????????? There are like 20 types. And prices very on each. Could you guys give some input on that also??

Here is the link to Lowes with the tape and prices they have.
http://www.lowes.com/pl_Duct+HVAC+Tape_4294806305_4294937087_?Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&Va=true

 

[rickairmedic]

Garageman heres what I recomend for the Tape and as I said earlier make sure you burnish it down after applying it .

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=sim&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1


Rick

 

[1Garageman]

Garageman heres what I recomend for the Tape and as I said earlier make sure you burnish it down after applying it .

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=sim&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1


Rick

Thanks a TON Rick!

I will pick that up tonight and get r done!

 

[rickairmedic]

Garageman you are going to have quite a bit of Tape left over . I would recomend going ahead and checking all the joints you can see and get to in your ductwork and using your leftover tape to go ahead and seal everything up you can while your at it .


Rick

 

[tdkkart]

You guys disappoint me, nobody suggested stuffing a cat in the hole and screwing it's tail down next to the hole?? What's the world coming to, and what are we supposed to do with all our extra cats??

 

[larry_g]

After relooking at your first picture again are you sure that hole is not for the room in the background? I also would advise against to much or any mastic, if you have a small leak in your patch it will be nothing compared to the air flow coming out the bottom of the ductwork. If I'm right in my asumption your going to figure out what was intended to be connected there and you will be opening it back up to make the connection.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rockchucker]

I would run a bead of Caulk or Mastic around the opening then overlay a larger piece of Flat Sheet Metal and screw it down with Self Tapping Screws. Once this is done then go over it with Nashua Silver Tape. Around the whole Edge of each side of the patch and over every screw head.


Nashua Silver Tape...

 

[rickairmedic]

After relooking at your first picture again are you sure that hole is not for the room in the background? I also would advise against to much or any mastic, if you have a small leak in your patch it will be nothing compared to the air flow coming out the bottom of the ductwork. If I'm right in my asumption your going to figure out what was intended to be connected there and you will be opening it back up to make the connection.

lg
no neat sig line

Actually Larry if you look at the second picture you will see a 6" duct going off in the other direction. My thoughts are they cut the hole in the wrong spot for the 6" originally and then forgot about it further down the line and didnt go back and cover the hole.

Rick

 

[larry_g]

Actually Larry if you look at the second picture you will see a 6" duct going off in the other direction. My thoughts are they cut the hole in the wrong spot for the 6" originally and then forgot about it further down the line and didnt go back and cover the hole.

Rick

I didn't consider that, you may be correct..

lg
no neat sig line

 

[1Garageman]

Actually Larry if you look at the second picture you will see a 6" duct going off in the other direction. My thoughts are they cut the hole in the wrong spot for the 6" originally and then forgot about it further down the line and didnt go back and cover the hole.

Rick

That is what I think they did also.
I think that is exactly what those *******/lazyass bastards did!

 

[1Garageman]

1st of all, I'd like to thank all of you for your advice and help. I literally couldn't of done it with you guys!!!

I bought the piece of aluminum you guys suggested, cut it down to size a little bit. Used half inch bolt headed screws and then the tape that rickairmedic recommended.

I turned the furnace back on and not a bit of air came out of it!

Thanks a ton guys!
I could not of done it with you your help, all of you!

 

[rickairmedic]

Looks good Garageman . I will have to admit after I went back and looked at your pics again I thought to myself . Ooooooooooo thats gonna be fun being ontop and between the joists. I will also say again since it looks like most of your ducts are exposed . Feel free to take the leftover tape and seal any joints you can find . This is code today to seal all the joints but when your house was built it wasnt and I would bet they are not sealed .


Rick

 

[1Garageman]

I will take a look later and see what other ducts are exposed. I am exhausted after squeezing between those two pipes and getting that done. I am curious to see if this does help out with our heating bill any.

 

[Coach James]

Did you notice any difference in the air flow in the other rooms after you finished?

Coach

 

[1Garageman]

Did you notice any difference in the air flow in the other rooms after you finished?

Coach

Honestly I didn't check the flow before I did it, so I couldn't tell you for sure. I should of done a before and after check. I was just so concentrated on getting it done A.S.A.P. With a hole that big in the duct and that much air coming out I would think that there would be a little bit of change.

 

[Cast Iron Nuts]

Actually Larry if you look at the second picture you will see a 6" duct going off in the other direction. My thoughts are they cut the hole in the wrong spot for the 6" originally and then forgot about it further down the line and didnt go back and cover the hole.

Rick

I think if you take a good look at the hole and the what appears to be a 4 inch duct you will find the hole is much larger assuming the spacing on the joists is 16 inch and not 19.2.

My take on this hole left in the duct may have been there to alleviate some air flow due to a high temp rise in the system. I would take a look at all supply branch lines and see if they have all been installed with a simple cut in collar and not a conical take off as it should have been.

Now looking at the first pic it doesn't appear to look like there is much return duct. There is what looks like a 6 inch duct cut into the return along with what appears to be a outdoor intake duct. At the same time your looking at the supply duct take offs take a look and see how many return air outlets are in the home.

Then just to be sure do a temp rise between the supply and return

 

[1Garageman]

I think they put that hole in there by accident. Look at the picture below. It shows a pipe coming out of it to the left of it which goes into another bedroom. I think they put this hole here by accident and just never patched it up.

This pipe you see to on the left is right next to the hole I patched.

 

[jeepurzz]

If you want to ensure a water/air tight seal, stop by an HVAC supplier and pick up some duct sealer. It's like heavy duty chalking for ductwork.

 

[cowboyjosh]

Let me guess 1Garageman, your home was built by either MI or Dominion? I have a couple friends who live in Columbus and 2 of them, 1 owns a MI same vintage as yours, the other a Dominion, and both have all sorts of **** wrong, some found after the warranty was up, some things they found were almost criminal. To be fair another fella I know outside Marysville (Jerome Township) has a bitching custom home, 10 years old, and had to re-do the Stucco cause the original stucco job was leaking so bad.

 

[rickairmedic]

Well at least we know Dominion doesnt discriminate . They build **** homes here in Louisville as well . Thats why I wont buy a house newer than 40 years old at least then I know the shell was built well . I may have to rewire , replumb and reHVAC buuuuuut the house itself will be standing well after I'm gone .


Rick

 

[1Garageman]

Let me guess 1Garageman, your home was built by either MI or Dominion? I have a couple friends who live in Columbus and 2 of them, 1 owns a MI same vintage as yours, the other a Dominion, and both have all sorts of **** wrong, some found after the warranty was up, some things they found were almost criminal. To be fair another fella I know outside Marysville (Jerome Township) has a bitching custom home, 10 years old, and had to re-do the Stucco cause the original stucco job was leaking so bad.

You might be right. I am trying to look it up right now. I have a bad memory and I am looking online. My wife would know and I texted her her to ask her. I hope we don't run into anymore problems.

This problem just flat out shocked the **** out of me. And it is scary to think if this passed by what else could be wrong

 

[monkonmonk]

My wife and I recently built an MI home 2 years ago and just now as I am finishing the garage I have had some circuits improperly wired to what I requested and have had to fix a bunch of other little items.

I think I am going to go through the basement and check for extra holes though!

Glad you got it taken care of!

 

[Harley Guy]

Looks like a good fix. Nice job!

 

[1Garageman]

My wife and I recently built an MI home 2 years ago and just now as I am finishing the garage I have had some circuits improperly wired to what I requested and have had to fix a bunch of other little items.

I think I am going to go through the basement and check for extra holes though!

Glad you got it taken care of!

Ya I just couldn't believe that some idiot left this hole behind and didn't patch it. I wonder how much money it has cost us over the years??

Looks like a good fix. Nice job!

Thanks!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Sorry a little late here, but did you manage to buy any new tools out of this deal ?

 

[1Garageman]

Sorry a little late here, but did you manage to buy any new tools out of this deal ?

No I didn't. I already have an adapter that lets me put my sockets on to my drill, plus I have sockets that are just for the drill. So the wife was VERY happy that all of this was less than $35 and should save us some money. So hopefully I should be able to get me some tool stuff on the next HF sale or yard sale we go to
The wife truly realizes how important all the tools are and how much "WE" need them .

 

[NUTTSGT]

The wife truly realizes how important all the tools are and how much "WE" need them .

Now that sounds like a smart investment.

 

[sdowney717]

I would have foregone the screws and the metal foil tape.
Just cut a piece of metal to cover.
Glue it down with PL premium polyurethane construction adhesive.
Lay something on it while the glue sets up so it wont move.

That PL works good on everything I have glued including sheet metal.