DIY Network

Case of the Dusty House Home inspector Wally Conway comes to the rescue of a couple with a dusty house. From "Finders Fixers" episode DFFX-208

Sealing the Attic Duct

Damon and Wendy Katsikas have a baby on the way, and they can't seem to get rid of the dust in their house. One of the problems discovered by DIY's Finders Fixers home inspector, Wally Conway, is an attic duct that's leaking air — and dust.

Solution: Seal the duct.

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	Securing the existing ductwork in the attic will help with eliminating the dust in the house.
	Figure A
	Figure B

Materials:

nylon ties
Tensioner tool
aluminum tape
plastic squeegee
mastic sealant
paintbrush

1. Snip off the old nylon ties that are holding the duct down over the existing flange.

2. Slide the inner duct down over the flange.

3. To secure it in place, is heavy duty aluminum tape. Use a plastic squeegee to strengthen the seal.

4. Wrap new nylon ties to hold the duct in place and tighten with a tension tool (figure A) to ensure a snug fit. Snip off any excess,

5. Roll the insulation back down, followed by the outer cover.

6. Add a second nylon duct strap to hold these top layers in place.

7. To make the seal permanent, spread a mastic sealant (figure B) over the entire connection joint. Apply liberally to ensure a good seal. Leave mastic to set and dry.

	Adding a UV purifier to the air handler is another great way to decrease the dust in the house.
	Figure C
	Figure D

Adding a UV Purifier to the Air Handler

The second fix to solve the case of the dusty house is to add a UV purifier to the air handler.

Materials:

UV purifier
drill
hole saw bit
gloves
safety glasses

Note: Refer to the manufacturer's instructions before starting to ensure proper installation.

1. Consider the placement of the light. Select a position that will enable plenty of clearance for the bulb.

2. Once you've designated where the light will be installed, put the self-adhesive template in place (figure C). The template will show where you'll need to drill a pair of 2-1/4" holes.

3. Using a drill with a hole saw bit, cut the two holes in the metal ductwork. Make sure that you got a good grip on the tool and not on the blade as it starts going. Use the template to also drill holes for the back plate.

4. Connect the UV bulbs (figure D). Be careful not to touch the bulbs with your bare hands, as oils from you skin could damage the bulb. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Install the back plate and drill into place.

6. Put the light in place and secure. Make sure that there's enough clearance from the base of the bulbs.

7. Connect the power and test. Remember to change the 36-watt bulb annually.

	The final Finders Fixers fix is to install a new thermostat.
	Figure E

Install New Thermostat

Materials:

screwdriver
digital thermostat

1. Remove the cover plate of the old existing thermostat.

2. Using the tags provided (figure E), mark the individual wires to match what's on the circuit board. This will ensure that the wires go to the right place when installing the new thermostat. Once all the wires are properly labeled, free them from the old contacts.

3. With the wires disconnected, remove the back plate.

4. Put the new back plate in place. You may have to drill new holes if the anchors don't match up.

5. Re-attach the wires.

   Note: Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper configuration.

6. Attach the control panel and put the new faceplate in place.

7. Test your work.