Insulate Heat Ducts In Attic

To insulate the exterior you have a choice between sleeve style insulation and blanket wraps which literally wrap around the ductwork.

Insulate heat ducts in attic.

The shiny vapor barrier will protect the ductwork from sweating as long as it s exposed to the surrounding air. Inspect the span of ductwork to be insulated. Looking at the cooling side only the additional load would be. Today s flexible ductwork is covered with a shiny metallic cover this is its vapor barrier.

If necessary switch the wires to reduce the blower to its lowest. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. Look for signs of air leaks at seams or joints such as streams of dust. Use the type of metallic foil duct tape recommended by the insulation manufacturer to seal and hold the insulation in place.

Use a paintbrush to apply duct mastic to the joints where an elbow. 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. To install sleeves you must either disassemble the ductwork and slide it on before reassembling the ducts or as many homeowners find themselves doing slit it and wrap it around like the blanket style material. Check the speed of the blower motor on the furnace.

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. How to insulate your central air heating ducts 1. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates. Hvac ductwork is typically visible in your attic especially flexible ductwork.

Purchase duct wrap insulation that complies with the 2009 international energy conservation code iecc standards. 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. She asked me to go into the attic to find the roof leaks or where the snow is blowing in through the soffits. R 8 duct insulation 5 227 btu hour.

When insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value. Make sure the foil surface of the insulation is free of dust before applying the tape. The rigid insulation was saturated from condensation. Install ductwork so that it is in direct contact with i e laying on the ceiling and or truss lower cords.

Press a continuous strip of foil tape to all longitudinal seams along straight runs of duct. All the ducts are in the attic.