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How to Seal Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic

Bob Jackson
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by Bob Jackson

How to seal sheet metal duct with mastic to prevent air leaks. This project is continued from How to Install Round Sheet Metal Duct – Part 4.

How to Seal Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic

Sheet metal duct seams and joints must be sealed with mastic to prevent air leaks. The materials for sealing sheet metal duct are:

  • Mastic – 1 gallon bucket of Duct-Seal 321.
  • 3 inch self-stick fiberglass mesh reinforcing tape for large joints.
  • 3 inch wide mastic brush – a soft-bristle short brush.
  • Scissors for cutting the fiberglass tape.
  • Zip lock sandwich bag for storing the wet mastic brush for reuse.
Duct-Seal 321 Mastic, Fiberglass Tape and Mastic Brush
Duct-Seal 321 Mastic, Fiberglass Tape and Mastic Brush

Mastic vs Metal Foil HVAC Tape

Mastic is a permanently flexible, indoor and outdoor rated, gap filling sealant that sticks to sheet metal, foil faced insulation, wood and most materials. Because it’s a gooey (like peanut butter) brush-on product, mastic conforms to any shape and contour. For long term duct sealing mastic is superior to metal foil HVAC tape. UL181B-FX metal foil HVAC tape is widely used for sealing air handlers, flexible duct and duct insulation wrap, however HVAC tape should be periodically inspected and replaced if loose.

I always use metal foil HVAC tape for sealing the air conditioner evaporator coil access panel and air filter slot because the access panel or filter needs to be removed for servicing.

Mastic Sheet Metal Duct Sealing: Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape

Fiberglass mesh reinforcing tape is needed to support the mastic across larger gaps, such as here where the start collar meets the duct board plenum. This fiberglass tape for sealing HVAC ducts with mastic, do not use fiberglass tape made for drywall joints.

Scissor cuts are made about half-way through the 3 inch wide self stick fiberglass tape so it will wrap around the start collar and lay flat against the plenum. Take care the surfaces are clean, oil and dust free before applying the tape and mastic.

Mastic Duct Sealing: Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape for Large Joints
Mastic Duct Sealing: Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape for Large Joints

Fiberglass tape is also applied to the far end start collar and duct board distribution trunk duct:

Sheet Metal Start Collar and Duct Board Trunk Fiberglass Tape
Sheet Metal Start Collar and Duct Board Trunk Fiberglass Tape

Fiberglass tape is applied to all gaps more than 1/8 inch wide. The 12 inch round duct pipe crimp band was bent a little where it fits into the elbow causing a noticeable gap in the duct joint. After fastening the duct with sheet metal screws, I wrapped the joint with fiberglass tape before applying mastic. Mastic will be worked through tape to fill the joint. This photo was taken when I was replacing the 2nd run of flexible duct on the other side of the air handler:

Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape to Seal Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic
Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape to Seal Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic

The Carlisle Duct Seal 321 mastic is a thick, gooey water-based product with very low odor:

Duct Seal 321 Mastic
Duct Seal 321 Mastic

Brush on the mastic, working it into the joints and fiberglass mesh. I applied two coats of mastic here, waiting for the first coat to dry before applying the second coat.

Seal the Sheet Metal Duct Start Collar & Plenum with Mastic
Seal the Sheet Metal Duct Start Collar & Plenum with Mastic

Seal all sheet metal duct joints with mastic. I did not seal the 12 inch diameter duct pipe joint with mastic at this time because it will be disassembled after the mastic dries to install the duct insulation sleeve.

Seal the Start Collar and Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic
Seal the Start Collar and Sheet Metal Duct with Mastic

The start collar, elbows and snap lock pipe seams are sealed with mastic. The straight duct pipe joints at the elbows will be sealed after the pipe is dissembled to slip on the R-8 insulation sleeve. (If you’ll be installing the wrap around rolls of duct insulation, then go ahead and seal all pipe seams with mastic now.)

Sealing Sheet Metal Air Duct with Mastic
Sealing Sheet Metal Air Duct with Mastic

Round sheet metal duct sealed with mastic:

Round Sheet Metal Duct Sealed with Mastic
Round Sheet Metal Duct Sealed with Mastic

View of the mastic and ductwork from the attic stairway:

Mastic Sheet Metal Duct Sealing
Mastic Sheet Metal Duct Sealing

Next up: Install the duct insulation sleeve and final duct sealing with mastic.

Thanks for reading,

Bob Jackson

adjustable elbowduct boardduct sealingductworkfiberglass tape
Bob Jackson
Bob Jackson
Technology product manager by day and a prolific handyman in the evenings and over the weekends. Bob was the founder of the original Handyman How To website and that tradition continues on this site with excellent new handyman content into the future.
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