Home A/C advice

[Good Stuff]

Noticed my downstairs living room starting to smell like blown in insulation this week. Just had the AC replaced under home warranty so I went up in the attic and found a small gap on one of the ducts where it connects to the plenum. Haven’t even called the tech and since it’s been 30 days warranty will charge me another $100 to send someone out. Can I just spray foam the small gap as long as I make sure nothing goes into the plenum? Or should I deal with getting someone out to work on it. I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home

 

[ChumpChange]

Sounds like an actual use for duct tape. It’s not often somebody gets to use it for its true purpose.

 

[azsunfun]

If it's cool enough to work on it remove flex duct from takeoff mounted to duct barely it looks like, there are several duct sealing products out there seal around takeoff reattach duct.

 

[Mikes56]

How about that shiny metal tape. It’s kinda like duct tape but shiny and stick as shit.

 

[CoolCruzin]

How about that shiny metal tape. It’s kinda like duct tape but shiny and stick as shit.

That’s the good stuff .

 

[Bobby V]

How about that shiny metal tape. It’s kinda like duct tape but shiny and stick as shit.

Aluminum foil tape?

 

[azsunfun]

Foil tape or duct tape will eventually dry out, from the looks of the pictures that a massive leak and needs taken apart and redone only way is to remove duct for the work area and sealed with elasomeric.

 

[DLC]

Pookie it !

What AzFunSun said !

They even sell it at depot

 

[Justfishing]

How about that shiny metal tape. It’s kinda like duct tape but shiny and stick as shit.

Thats the true duct tape. The other so called duct tape was developed to seal ww2 ammo boxes. It wont last long.

 

[SoCalDave]

I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home

In my honest opinion I would have replaced as much of the 25 year old plenum's/ducking as posible as there has got to be a shit ton of leaks.
Just my .02

 

[Orange Juice]

In my honest opinion I would have replaced as much of the 25 year old plenum's/ducking as posible as there has got to be a shit ton of leaks.
Just my .02

I thought the same thing.

What I’m looking at in those pictures would be a complete ripe out, and use of the light weight stuff that doesn’t need to pump 15 minutes of hot air before it starts to cool down.

I had mine done when they replace the ac. Made a huge difference in my a/c bill. 20%

 

[TrollerDave]

Noticed my downstairs living room starting to smell like blown in insulation this week. Just had the AC replaced under home warranty so I went up in the attic and found a small gap on one of the ducts where it connects to the plenum. Haven’t even called the tech and since it’s been 30 days warranty will charge me another $100 to send someone out. Can I just spray foam the small gap as long as I make sure nothing goes into the plenum? Or should I deal with getting someone out to work on it. I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home View attachment 1436076

It sucks it is not under the warranty, but I’d call them out to fix it. That is unacceptable. You’re not in CA are you? Here in CA, we have Title 24 and they are supposed to test for any air leaks. EVERYTHING has to be sealed and then tested for it.

 

[Good Stuff]

I thought the same thing.

What I’m looking at in those pictures would be a complete ripe out, and use of the light weight stuff that doesn’t need to pump 15 minutes of hot air before it starts to cool down.

I had mine done when they replace the ac. Made a huge difference in my a/c bill. 20%

In my honest opinion I would have replaced as much of the 25 year old plenum's/ducking as posible as there has got to be a shit ton of leaks.
Just my .02

Yeah if I was paying for the replacement I would have pushed for that. Got a whole new 410a compressor and condenser for $100 through the home warranty so I’m not super upset about it. They just don’t cover “upgrade” modifications. I’ll try and see if I can get into the plenum box (or whatever it’s called) and get it resealed. Don’t think it’s worth another $100 to likely have someone just duct tape the hell out of it. I honestly don’t even know if they cover the ducting. I can tell it’s a good sized leak because I smell the blown in insulation from the air coming out downstairs.

 

[Good Stuff]

It sucks it is not under the warranty, but I’d call them out to fix it. That is unacceptable. You’re not in CA are you? Here in CA, we have Title 24 and they are supposed to test for any air leaks. EVERYTHING has to be sealed and then tested for it.

Yes I’m in Murrieta. I do think it just let go because it didn’t smell for 2 months.

 

[TrollerDave]

Yes I’m in Murrieta. I do think it just let go because it didn’t smell for 2 months.

It’s possible it did just happened. But if it was done right it shouldn’t have happened at all. I would pursue the issue with the home warranty company. If they don’t do anything, you might have to follow up with whoever regulates them. It does not look like it was done to code, especially to title 24.

If you had “a friend that has some A/C tools” do it for 1/3 of the price other licensed contractors were going to do it for, I’d say try to attach it better then duct tape and then duct sealer on top of that.

 

[TrollerDave]

Noticed my downstairs living room starting to smell like blown in insulation this week. Just had the AC replaced under home warranty so I went up in the attic and found a small gap on one of the ducts where it connects to the plenum. Haven’t even called the tech and since it’s been 30 days warranty will charge me another $100 to send someone out. Can I just spray foam the small gap as long as I make sure nothing goes into the plenum? Or should I deal with getting someone out to work on it. I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home View attachment 1436076

It’s hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like the duct that broke open, is at a tight angle. It is also at the edge of a fiberboard plenum and that doesn’t give it a much of a lip to attach to. I could be wrong, just my thoughts from that one pic.

I’m assuming you have a filter in the return grill in the ceiling. Not only does that opening in the plenum let in hot air from the attic, but also dust and parts of insulation that could clog the evaporator coil and cause other issues. Not trying to freak you out, just some things to keep in mind if you let it go and don’t get it fixed.

 

[Good Stuff]

It’s hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like the duct that broke open, is at a tight angle. It is also at the edge of a fiberboard plenum and that doesn’t give it a much of a lip to attach to. I could be wrong, just my thoughts from that one pic.

I’m assuming you have a filter in the return grill in the ceiling. Not only does that opening in the plenum let in hot air from the attic, but also dust and parts of insulation that could clog the evaporator coil and cause other issues. Not trying to freak you out, just some things to keep in mind if you let it go and don’t get it fixed.

Yep I completely understand not leaving it how it is or it will just become a bigger problem. And yes I think he trimmed the old plenum to clear with the bigger unit and the peak of my roof so the duct outlet didn’t have enough to hold that duct and got a tighter angle that’s pulling on the old opening. I’ll give the warranty people a call and see what they say. My wife is the rep so it sometimes backfires since they won’t do any goodwill work for us to prevent conflict or abuse of benefits.

 

[rrrr]

I’ll try and see if I can get into the plenum box (or whatever it’s called) and get it resealed. Don’t think it’s worth another $100 to likely have someone just duct tape the hell out of it. I honestly don’t even know if they cover the ducting. I can tell it’s a good sized leak because I smell the blown in insulation from the air coming out downstairs.

You should clean the surfaces with a strong solvent so the tape will adhere. I use lacquer thinner for stuff like this. The odor is significant, but it goes away.

I would use foil tape. Buy the good stuff. Use a putty knife or something else that's stiff to seat it properly.

 

[zhandfull]

Sounds like a workmanship issue. Call the warranty company/contractor and have them fix it. Don’t pay them anything.

 

[lbhsbz]

The start collar is falling outta the evaporator/plenum.

Need to remove that piece of flex, re-attach the start collar, I’d add some screws, seal with goop, then re-attach.

Code used to require zip ties around the inner flex liner…and that style tape was OK 30 years ago…but now you need to use the silver tape…it’s like a thick Mylar type material, and sticks a lot better.

I’d add some strap to support the flex and take stress off of the start collar connection.

Thats a shit job though and whoever installed it should come back out and re-do it to make it look like a professional did it.

 

[wishiknew]

Noticed my downstairs living room starting to smell like blown in insulation this week. Just had the AC replaced under home warranty so I went up in the attic and found a small gap on one of the ducts where it connects to the plenum. Haven’t even called the tech and since it’s been 30 days warranty will charge me another $100 to send someone out. Can I just spray foam the small gap as long as I make sure nothing goes into the plenum? Or should I deal with getting someone out to work on it. I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home View attachment 1436076

Was someone crawling around in the attic fixing some thing else and move the duct ?.

 

[Kachina26]

@Riverbound or @dezertrider would be the ones I'd ask to chime in. Can you choose what company comes out with the home warranty?

 

[Riverbound]

@Riverbound or @dezertrider would be the ones I'd ask to chime in. Can you choose what company comes out with the home warranty?

Nope you get the cheapest bottom of the barrel person they pick.

Home warranties for AC aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Low quality work done for the absolute cheapest price. Unfortunately This thread is representative of the type of work you get from them.

 

[Riverbound]

It sucks it is not under the warranty, but I’d call them out to fix it. That is unacceptable. You’re not in CA are you? Here in CA, we have Title 24 and they are supposed to test for any air leaks. EVERYTHING has to be sealed and then tested for it.

Would be the only saving. Grace if they are in ca and demand permits pulled and closed for the work done.

 

[Kachina26]

Nope you get the cheapest bottom of the barrel person they pick.

Home warranties for AC aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Low quality work done for the absolute cheapest price. Unfortunately This thread is representative of the type of work you get from them.

I remember people bringing aftermarket auto warranties to the dealer I worked at. I didn't like them because they tried to dictate how I did the work and the prices I'd charge. We finally got to a point where we'd tell the customer that we'd be happy to do the work, but dealing with their aftermarket warranty company was on them. The seller bought a home warranty for us on the place we got in Texas. I've done all the work needed so far. I'm not sure what I would do should I need any actual big ticket items done as I'd really like a say in who works in my house.

 

[Big B Hova]

Noticed my downstairs living room starting to smell like blown in insulation this week. Just had the AC replaced under home warranty so I went up in the attic and found a small gap on one of the ducts where it connects to the plenum. Haven’t even called the tech and since it’s been 30 days warranty will charge me another $100 to send someone out. Can I just spray foam the small gap as long as I make sure nothing goes into the plenum? Or should I deal with getting someone out to work on it. I think it’s because he had to modify it a bit to fit the new unit and it tweaked the old connection that’s 25 years old on the home View attachment 1436076

Your new system should have more than a 30 day warranty. Home warranty repair or not.

 

[Good Stuff]

Was someone crawling around in the attic fixing some thing else and move the duct ?.

No there hasn’t been anyone up there since the AC guy a few months ago.

 

[Good Stuff]

Nope you get the cheapest bottom of the barrel person they pick.

Home warranties for AC aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Low quality work done for the absolute cheapest price. Unfortunately This thread is representative of the type of work you get from them.

I paid $100 for a brand new system minus existing ducting and the furnace. Two months after the guy left I got some separation from a 25 year old duct connection. I don’t really think that’s shit work but I’m glad that most of you guys in here hold yourselves to such a high standard. That is why I figured I could get an answer to my question in here. Like I said I haven’t even reached out to ask the guy to come back because I figured if $10 and 10 minutes of my time was all it took I didn’t need to hit a small business with $200 worth of fuel and labor to come to my house for 10 minutes. The duct is separating from the bottom not the top so it’s more like the support strap is a little too short rather than unsupported. This wasn’t a pissed off about the work done post it was just a question about if it could be fixed easily which seems to be the consensus.

 

[yz450mm]

I paid $100 for a brand new system minus existing ducting and the furnace. Two months after the guy left I got some separation from a 25 year old duct connection. I don’t really think that’s shit work but I’m glad that most of you guys in here hold yourselves to such a high standard. That is why I figured I could get an answer to my question in here. Like I said I haven’t even reached out to ask the guy to come back because I figured if $10 and 10 minutes of my time was all it took I didn’t need to hit a small business with $200 worth of fuel and labor to come to my house for 10 minutes. The duct is separating from the bottom not the top so it’s more like the support strap is a little too short rather than unsupported. This wasn’t a pissed off about the work done post it was just a question about if it could be fixed easily which seems to be the consensus.

Go to Home Depot and get a roll of this, tape the shit out of it and throw some pookie on it if it makes you feel better.

Nope you get the cheapest bottom of the barrel person they pick.

Home warranties for AC aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Low quality work done for the absolute cheapest price. Unfortunately This thread is representative of the type of work you get from them.

I remember people bringing aftermarket auto warranties to the dealer I worked at. I didn't like them because they tried to dictate how I did the work and the prices I'd charge. We finally got to a point where we'd tell the customer that we'd be happy to do the work, but dealing with their aftermarket warranty company was on them. The seller bought a home warranty for us on the place we got in Texas. I've done all the work needed so far. I'm not sure what I would do should I need any actual big ticket items done as I'd really like a say in who works in my house.

The home warranty thing is a shitshow, unless you know the magic words. Let them send the initial moron out, then tell them you want the "cash payout" .

Take that money and do it yourself, hire a friend that knows his shit, or put it towards hiring a professional.

 

[Riverbound]

Go to Home Depot and get a roll of this, tape the shit out of it and throw some pookie on it if it makes you feel better.

View attachment 1436366




The home warranty thing is a shitshow, unless you know the magic words. Let them send the initial moron out, then tell them you want the "cash payout" .

Take that money and do it yourself, hire a friend that knows his shit, or put it towards hiring a professional.

We advise people all the time to take the cash out. And then pay a pro like us. One thing to know their cash out amount won’t hire someone like us but will be a nice deposit towards having it done right.

 

[Riverbound]

I paid $100 for a brand new system minus existing ducting and the furnace. Two months after the guy left I got some separation from a 25 year old duct connection. I don’t really think that’s shit work but I’m glad that most of you guys in here hold yourselves to such a high standard. That is why I figured I could get an answer to my question in here. Like I said I haven’t even reached out to ask the guy to come back because I figured if $10 and 10 minutes of my time was all it took I didn’t need to hit a small business with $200 worth of fuel and labor to come to my house for 10 minutes. The duct is separating from the bottom not the top so it’s more like the support strap is a little too short rather than unsupported. This wasn’t a pissed off about the work done post it was just a question about if it could be fixed easily which seems to be the consensus.

Not everyone wants it done right and is OK with half ass work. Glad you’re happy with what you got.

 

[azsunfun]

I'm sure he can accomplish this simple task for less than 80.00, professionally himself with right materials, without your smart ass!

 

[Riverbound]

I'm sure he can accomplish this simple task for less than 80.00, professionally himself with right materials, without your smart ass!

$80 wouldn’t get a truck there let alone properly fixing it. Duct taping it together isn’t the correct fix. But gotta love the DIY solutions that some are recommending.

 

[azsunfun]

$80 wouldn’t get a truck there let alone properly fixing it. Duct taping it together isn’t the correct fix. But gotta love the DIY solutions that some are recommending.

That 80 bucks includes gas to get the materials.

 

[Kachina26]

$80 wouldn’t get a truck there let alone properly fixing it. Duct taping it together isn’t the correct fix. But gotta love the DIY solutions that some are recommending.

As someone following along for the proper fix, what is the correct fix for this? Would more evaluation of what's going on be needed? Or was it a chop job from the start and trying to make a new system fit into old duct work just a bad idea from the start?

 

[TrollerDave]

As someone following along for the proper fix, what is the correct fix for this? Would more evaluation of what's going on be needed? Or was it a chop job from the start and trying to make a new system fit into old duct work just a bad idea from the start?

From the pic and description, the proper fix would be to replace the plenum. All the collars should have a proper fit and be completely sealed.
Kind of hard to tell if it can be salvaged properly without seeing it in person.
The old ducts can be used with a new unit. It’s all about making sure the air system is sealed. Sometimes things can get tight in the attic or a duct is just a bit too short and the tech doesn’t want to replace it or customer doesn’t want to pay.

 

[Riverbound]

As someone following along for the proper fix, what is the correct fix for this? Would more evaluation of what's going on be needed? Or was it a chop job from the start and trying to make a new system fit into old duct work just a bad idea from the start?

Pretty much chop job from the beginning. At minimum a new plenum needs to be built to compensate for the different size then the start collars can be positioned in a manner they won’t have pressure on the ducts pulling them out of the existing plenum. This would have taken and additional 15-20 minutes at the time of install to do when the equipment wasn’t there now it’s hours to do.

Without seeing the rest of the install not sure what else is needed but I can assume if they skipped that step there are plenty others that were skipped as well.

The recommendation of using tape or mastic to “fix” it are not long term solutions and will fail as well. Tape doesn’t stay “sticky” in an article with constant hot and cold cycles. So that’s only a band aid.

The installing contractor should definitely come back and fix but knowing how poorly home warranties pay they won’t.

 

[azsunfun]

Pretty much chop job from the beginning. At minimum a new plenum needs to be built to compensate for the different size then the start collars can be positioned in a manner they won’t have pressure on the ducts pulling them out of the existing plenum. This would have taken and additional 15-20 minutes at the time of install to do when the equipment wasn’t there now it’s hours to do.

Without seeing the rest of the install not sure what else is needed but I can assume if they skipped that step there are plenty others that were skipped as well.

The recommendation of using tape or mastic to “fix” it are not long term solutions and will fail as well. Tape doesn’t stay “sticky” in an article with constant hot and cold cycles. So that’s only a band aid.

The installing contractor should definitely come back and fix but knowing how poorly home warranties pay they won’t.

Replace 25 year old working duct? the man said, you must have golden spatulas for your gold mystical fix!

 

[Riverbound]

Replace 25 year old working duct? the man said, you must have golden spatulas for your gold mystical fix!

Re read my post. It CLEARLY says replace plenum. Now for the uneducated like yourself that is the metal Box that the OP posts is leaking because the start collars are being pulled out.


Note sure what your issue is, but yuu should brush up on your reading comprehension and focus less on my posts.

 

[azsunfun]

Re read my post. It CLEARLY says replace plenum. Now for the uneducated like yourself that is the metal Box that the OP posts is leaking because the start collars are being pulled out.


Note sure what your issue is, but yuu should brush up on your reading comprehension and focus less on my posts.

Hopefully the bud that was asking for advise comes back and lets us know! Clearly again why worked twenty years?, see you don't understand reading compression, you haven't tried remotely to help! You just pump out text thinking ac God I am!

 

[Riverbound]

Hopefully the bud that was asking for advise comes back and lets us know! Clearly again why worked twenty years?, see you don't understand reading compression, you haven't tried remotely to help! You just pump out text thinking ac God I am!

…….And this is why people stop posting on RDP. Somebody asks a question, when someone who actually knows about the topic Replies, some dumbass know it all keyboard warrior tells them how they are wrong, yet the ankle biting chihuahua gives the wrong advice themselves.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Yeah, I'm with Bill here.... That is a ductboard plenum. Cheap garbage. They work ok if done exactly right, but if not and a hole is cut too large or there is too much pressure applied to the duct, it falls apart and there really is not much of a way to fix it.

I would get a reputable company out there to replace the plenum and modify the ductwork accordingly at a minimum. If they want to touch a system that just had a home warranty company touch it (typically the shittiest work possible).

 

[rrrr]

$80 wouldn’t get a truck there let alone properly fixing it. Duct taping it together isn’t the correct fix. But gotta love the DIY solutions that some are recommending.

Now for the uneducated like yourself...

That's helpful commentary.

I'm under the impression the OP isn't keen on dropping the money to tear out the existing plenums. It's not clear to me how crappy the joint between the two is. If the gaps are reasonably small and if he has access to all four sides, it's possible to make an effective seal.

This DIY dumbass thinks using listed foil tape is an appropriate measure to seal the interface between a ductboard and sheet metal plenum. When the area is properly prepped and the tape is applied using correct procedures, it'll stay that way for years. It won't hurt to try it.

A residential system usually runs a bit more than .25" static pressure. That's not much.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

That's helpful commentary.

I'm under the impression the OP isn't keen on dropping the money to tear out the existing plenums. It's not clear to me how crappy the joint between the two is. If the gaps are reasonably small and if he has access to all four sides, it's possible to make an effective seal.

This DIY dumbass thinks using listed foil tape is an appropriate measure to seal the interface between a ductboard and sheet metal plenum. When the area is properly prepped and the tape is applied using correct procedures, it'll stay that way for years. It won't hurt to try it.

A residential system usually runs a bit more than .25" static pressure. That's not much.

Try more than that on most older installations. Back when I was doing residential it was pretty common I would measure .8"+ on the supply side alone. Based on that one picture, I'm willing to bet he is way up there as well on this system.

 

[hallett21]

I’ve always tried to treat customers the way I’d treat my mom or family.

And providing material at cost or paying for it outright is cheating.

Not everything needs a full rebuild.

Edit.

I could sell a rewire all day on any members 10+ year old home if I went by the letter of the law lol.