Daily Home Renovation Tips

In Part 11, we illustrated how how the excess length of the 4 screws holding the Cansolair Solar Max 240 blower assembly together was used to extend it’s length.

However this left us with still an issue. There should be no gap between the end of the square blower duct and the end of the blower assembly containing the fan. However, as the picture below shows, there is a full inch and a half gap because of our extension of the blower assembly.

 So, what’s the fix?

Well, we could have simply used duct tap to cover that gap, but over time that would have worn out.

The solution Bennett came up with was to use sheet metal.

He found an excess piece of metal duct pipe in our garage from prior renovations.

He opened the excess duct pipe and proceeded to cut four strips in sufficient width to cover the above mentioned gap per the above picture.

Following this, he placed the square blower assembly duct into the opening in the wall and used the provided screws to screw the assembly into the wood paneling that was behind the drywall (per the above picture).

The was then followed by placing duct tape on all 4 sides of the inserted blower duct to help prevent drafts from entering through any gaps between the blower duct and the exterior wall.

 Following this, he placed the square blower assembly duct into the opening in the wall and used the provided screws to screw the assembly through the drywall and into the wood paneling that was behind the drywall (per the following picture).

Next went outside and started to shape the metal strips to the square shape of the blower duct (again, per the picture immediately below).

Next, he used a combination of duct tape and the friction between the swuare blower duct and the brick to affix the strips to cover the gap, as shown in the next picture.

Now there is no gap between the extended blower duct and the extended blower assembly. 

Next time, we discuss a concern that both Bennett and I share with the recommended approach to placing and holding the Solar Max 240 on the wall and the different approach we took that should help you as well.

To continue to the next article in this series, simply select this link to Part 13 - Bigger is Better .