What kind of caulk to use ?

[greeno]

Hello,
I have this direct vent termination cap . As clear in picture, caulk around it is cracked. What kind of caulk do i use between metal and white plastic ? Should I use Vulken 116 here ?
Also, do I need to put caulk between Grey vinyl and white plastic ( frame) ? I dont see any caulk there either.
Please advise.
Thanks!

 

[Lennox65]

If everything was installed and flashed correctly, you would not use caulking anywhere around that termination. It probably wasn't done correctly, but there isn't much that you can do now without removing everything and starting over.

You definitely do not caulk between the grey siding and the white J channel. the siding needs to move as it expands with the heat and contracts with the cold.

 

[greeno]

Okay. Understood.
Thanks for the inputs.

 

[greeno]

If everything was installed and flashed correctly, you would not use caulking anywhere around that termination. It probably wasn't done correctly, but there isn't much that you can do now without removing everything and starting over.

You definitely do not caulk between the grey siding and the white J channel. the siding needs to move as it expands with the heat and contracts with the cold.

There are two reasons I am thinking to caulk boundaries between vent cap & frame ( metal & plastic).
1- It has cracked caulk all over it. It suggests there was caulking around those edges, to begin with.

2- we get cold air from the access panel at the bottom. I don't know what I can do to fix it. My thinking is to caulk edges around . May be, it will fix that cold air draft.

 

[Lennox65]

The cold air is not coming from that tiny space between the J channel and the termination.
I have attached pictures of what a properly insulated and air sealed chase should look like.

Even when it is done properly, the design of direct vent fireplaces brings the cold outside air into the heated envelope of the house as combustion air. This cold air comes in through the coaxial( a pipe within another pipe) vent. The exhaust goes out through a smaller inner pipe and the combustion air is brought in through the larger pipe. The temperature difference of the cold outside air entering the warm conditioned space causes the cold dense air to drop and it is pulled by the pressure system of the house. It gets pulled through any openings in the outside of the fireplace( gas and electrical knockouts), and it can feel like blowing wind.

You can use foil tape to cover any penetrations in the lower cavity of the fireplace. This usually makes a noticeable difference.

 

[greeno]

Thank you for explanation.
I checked in the access panel, found this tape.
I am gonna re-do this tape.
Hopefully that will help.
thanks again!