Best Way To Insulate Attic Ductwork

To install preformed duct insulation start by disconnecting an elbow to expose the end of the duct.

Best way to insulate attic ductwork.

The attic ductwork is flex duct work. Adding insulation to your ducts isn t as simple as getting some duct wrap and taping it together. Use the type of metallic foil duct tape recommended by the insulation manufacturer to seal and hold the insulation in place. Once you seal your ducts you can insulate the ducts.

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. Insulate and air seal any knee walls vertical walls with attic space directly behind them in your home as well. There is more than one way to insulate ductwork. 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.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Duct liner isn t generally a diy installation and if your ducts already have liner you don t need to insulate the exterior. The two most common ways to insulate ductwork are.

But if you go this route you re forgetting something super important. Our heating and ac ducts are 100 within the thermal envelope in the floor trusses above our insulated basement. Ok some people and contractors do insulate their ducts this way. But our erv ducts stand alone system not tied in w heat pump and 2 jumper ducts for pressure balancing from bedrooms are suspended above the insulation in our vented attic.

Before insulating seal any air leaks and make roof and other necessary repairs. Wrapping the duct in a foil faced blanket. Repeat to insulate the remaining ducts. Choosing the type of duct insulation.

If it is located in a conditioned part of the house also remember to insulate and air seal your attic access. Secure the insulation with short strips of foil tape. 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.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. The only way you can hope to prevent this from happening is to have an absolutely air tight vapor. Wrap the insulation around the duct and then pinch the seam closed. When insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value.

And technically the ducts are insulated afterward. Humid hot attic air will work its way into the batts until it finds the cold duct board surface that once used to stay warm before you wrapped it and if that surface is cold enough moisture will collect and ruin your nice insulation job. Apply a long strip of foil tape along the seam in the insulation.