My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.

Someone else here may know better than I, but that sounds exactly like
asbestos. It used to be widely used as fireproof insulation for
ductwork before it started killing people.

Leave the stuff alone unless you're absolutely sure that is NOT
asbestos.

And if it IS asbestos, don't repair it. Either leave it alone or
remove it properly (expensive).



wrote:
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.

No, no, no. It's not asbestos. Not even close. This is where the main
duct attaches to the central unit. It's just to attach it and seal it
at the connection. It's a light cream/white color, and as I said, it
looks like strips of cloth that were dipped in plaster of paris, then
wrapped around the duct and allowed to dry.

Ron M.


wrote:
Someone else here may know better than I, but that sounds exactly like
asbestos. It used to be widely used as fireproof insulation for
ductwork before it started killing people.

Leave the stuff alone unless you're absolutely sure that is NOT
asbestos.

And if it IS asbestos, don't repair it. Either leave it alone or
remove it properly (expensive).



wrote:
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.

Can somebody tell me what this stuff is?

Sounds like mastic, which is just a thickened latex paint. Just gob over
it with some fresh material from the big box store. Also consider using
Mortite brand No Drip tape.

IF you want something similar go to an autoparts store and look at muffler
tape. There is a brand just as you describe , cloth tape with plaster of
paris, that you soak in water and wrap around the exhust pipe to seal leaks

wrote in message
ps.com...
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.

wrote:
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.


It is just duct sealant. You can get it at any HVAC supply.
They may even have it at the Home Dope store.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

wrote:
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material. It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.

sounds like mastic to me, like the other guy said

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

You are looking for duct sealant like CP 11 from Childers:
http://www.industrialinsulation.com/...yl_acrylic.pdf
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




wrote in message
ps.com...
My HVAC unit is up in the attic. It works fine - I just cleaned
the
coils - but at each end, where the unit connects to the main
intake and
output ducts, it's wrapped with this plastery-looking material.
It
looks like strips of cloth that have been soaked in Plaster of
Paris,
or maybe wheat paste. Some of it has cracked and is leaking
air, so I
want to replace or add another layer to it. Can somebody tell me
what
this stuff is? Hopefully it's something I can buy cheaply at
Home
Depot.

Thanks,
Ron M.