Insulating Hvac Ducts In Attic

Purchase duct wrap insulation that complies with the 2009 international energy conservation code iecc standards that specify an r value of 8.

Insulating hvac ducts in attic.

No building inspector worth his or her salt is going to let any builder or hvac contractor get away with installing ducts that aren t insulated. To install preformed duct insulation start by disconnecting an elbow to expose the end of the duct. Install ductwork so that it is in direct contact with i e laying on the ceiling and or truss lower cords. Snap a plastic cap onto the duct end then slip the preformed insulation over the duct.

Inspect the span of ductwork to be insulated. Most attic ducts are insulated flex ducts that is flex ducts with r 6 or r 8 fiberglass insulation along with an exterior polyethylene jacket. Make sure the foil surface of the insulation is free of dust before applying the tape. Put it in an attic full of blown insulation and you re forcing it to work harder to vent its heat.

Secure the insulation with short strips of foil tape. Duct insulation keeps air that s supposed to be cool cool and air that s supposed to be warm warm. First consider the duct location. Insulating hvac ductwork when insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value.

If your ducts aren t insulated you re probably paying way more than you should to cool and heat your home. Hvac ducts should be buried under insulation hard covered too. The greater the temperature extreme between the air inside the duct and the air surrounding the ductwork the greater your need for duct insulation. R 8 duct insulation 5 227 btu hour.

The duct insulation should include a vapor barrier cover. In addition to making the unit hard to get to for service high attic heat can trigger the. All the ducts are in the attic. Look for signs of air leaks at seams or joints such.

Let s look for constantly improving methods through sharing. Looking at the cooling side only the additional load would be. Unfortunately so many houses especially newer homes end up with ductwork running through the attic. Use metal flex or fiber board ducts that are insulated to code.

Repeat to insulate the remaining ducts. Insulated ducts have been the standard for decades now. How to insulate your central air heating ducts. When these ducts are exposed to exterior air the plastic jacket never gets cold enough to permit condensation because the hot attic air keeps the plastic jacket warm.

Apply a long strip of foil tape along the seam in the insulation. Use the type of metallic foil duct tape recommended by the insulation manufacturer to seal and hold the insulation in place. When hvac ducts are installed in a vented attic in a dry climate bury the ducts in attic insulation to protect them from temperature extremes in the unconditioned attic space.