Best Insulation For Attic Ductwork

You can find formaldehyde free insulation that also has an acrylic coating.

Best insulation for attic ductwork.

For an added layer of protection you can apply duct mastic to the tape and duct. Each job may require a different form of insulation. To install preformed duct insulation start by disconnecting an elbow to expose the end of the duct. Apply a long strip of foil tape along the seam in the insulation.

Wrap the insulation around the duct and then pinch the seam closed. The department of energy claims that the average us home loses hundreds of dollars a year in heating and cooling costs. Duct board much like the duct liner is also a fiberglass product. I called out the original hvac company and they took a look and said they saw no water.

Close to 25 of the energy you use to heat and cool your home disappears through leaky ductwork. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Duct liner isn t generally a diy installation and if your ducts already have liner you don t need to insulate the exterior. It was new when the ac was put in 7 years ago.

When insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value. Repeat to insulate the remaining ducts. Use the type of metallic foil duct tape recommended by the insulation manufacturer to seal and hold the insulation in place. Secure the insulation with short strips of foil tape.

Table 1 shows effective r values for 8 inch round ducts at three attic insulation levels and three duct insulation levels r 4 2 r 6 and r 8. Insulate ducts located on roofs and on unconditioned spaces like the attic garage crawlspace or unfinished basement. You don t want to end up with the wrong type of insulation for your air ducts. The fiberglass duct board is by far the most effective.

Recently i had another hvac company come out and put in a new bathroom vent and they told me they believed the duct work was full of water. Air ducts supply conditioned air from heating or air conditioning equipment into the living spaces of your home. Made from 1 to 2 inch thick sheets of rigid glass fiber and coated with an aluminum laminate for a moisture air barrier duct board comes in. These ducts are usually made out of thin sheet of metal that easily conduct heat.

The ducting currently rests on the attic joist which causes any residual r value from disintegrating insulation to be non existent. Granted the insulation on that duct has surpassed it life expectancy and my duct resides in the unconditioned attic. Proper duct insulation is a major key to ensuring your home s energy efficiency.