Ducts are typically composed of aluminum or galvanized steel, both of which are less than optimal when used alone. Hot air is heated in the furnace and then pushed through fans to various areas throughout your home. However, the air cools before reaching its target because the ducts are thin.
Exposed ductwork is wasteful in energy use, especially if it contains air leaks. Every homeowner should seriously consider insulating their current ducting in their basement.
Lower energy expenses will quickly recoup the cost of ducting insulation, and your HVAC equipment will last longer because it won’t have to work as hard. Insulating ductwork has a high return on investment.
Wrapping a layer of insulation around your duct will minimize the amount of hot or cold air that escapes. The denser it gets, the more difficult it is for the air to leave.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need To Insulate The Ductwork?
When it comes to heating and cooling your home, we explained how you could save energy by lowering energy loss through uninsulated ducting.
The importance of environmental sensitivity cannot be underestimated. It is beneficial for the environment if more energy is preserved or saved. In addition, your heating and cooling systems will not have to work as hard to make your home pleasant.
It’s also true that if your HVAC system is properly sized, but you’re losing a lot of the treated air through uninsulated and perhaps leaky ductwork or air conditioner may not be able to keep up, and areas of your home will be insufficiently heated or cooled.
It all starts with the raw materials. When it comes to insulating your ductwork, you have a few alternatives to consider.
Fiberglass will be used to construct the most cost-effective solutions for insulating the ducting in your basement, crawlspace, or attic. First and foremost, you have the option of choosing between flexible and rigid insulation. Duct liner, duct wrap, and duct board are all options for HVAC insulation.
Steps To Insulate The Ductwork
Taping duct joints should be done initially, even if it isn’t insulating your ducting. The processes for installing insulation around your ductwork in your basement and crawl space are outlined here.
It’s nice to save money by doing things yourself, but your health is equally crucial. Please take all necessary safety precautions when working with fiberglass since it is not a toy.
1) Choose The Insulation Material
Select the type of insulation you want to use for the task. Foil-backed batts are the most cost-effective type. It’s a good alternative for ductwork insulation as long as it’s heat resistant and has an R-factor greater than 3.5.
Before you begin insulating your ducts, inspect them for any holes that need to be filled. Turn on your HVAC system and feel for any air leaks. Use an incense stick or a smoke pencil to plug tiny leaks.
2) Measure The Ductwork Area
Cut your heat-resistant insulation to the right size after measuring the area of ducting you’ll be insulating. As the expression goes, measure twice, cut once. You don’t want to end up with more components than you need.
Use foiled duct wrap if holes are discovered. It’s a metallic foil tape designed exclusively for ductwork sealing. It will keep humidity and mold away from the duct. As a result, please refrain from using conventional duct tape. It also has a hard time with harsh temperatures.
3) Wrap The Ductwork Completely With Insulation
Wrap the insulation around the ductwork in the right size. Make sure it fits snugly around the ducting, but don’t compress or dent it because compacted fiberglass insulation contains less air, which helps to keep heat in.
Ensure the foil is on the outside of the ducting and that the fiberglass insulation is on the inside. Secure the insulation around the ducting with duct tape.
Wrap duct tape around the insulation and ductwork to do this. Slide the insulation around the duct from the bottom up, making sure the ends touch at the top. To keep the stream in place, use thin strips of foil tape that runs down it. Tape the full length of the stem after that.
4) Tape The Insulated Area
Step four should be repeated until your duct is completely covered. Make sure there are no holes and keep going until all you can see is foil. Moisture will not soak through the insulation and condense on the duct.
Get some simple wire and wrap it around your duct if you want to be an overachiever. For every four feet, wrap two wire pieces. Check all of your ductwork to make sure it’s properly covered and insulated and that there are no open spots where heated or cooled air can escape through ductwork that isn’t properly insulated.
Final Thoughts
These instructions showed you how to wrap your ducting in your basement or attic with flexible, foil-backed insulation. When installing rigid insulation, the same basic principles apply.
Rather than wrapping the insulation over the ductwork, you’ll cut the rigid insulation to fit around it and then seal it all together with foil-backed duct tape.
Are you looking for a way to save money on your electricity bill? You can take whichever strategy you prefer, whether you want to take on a challenge and try your hand at HVAC repair yourself or prefer the peace of mind and convenience of hiring a qualified professional.
Whatever choice you choose, make sure you do your homework and shop around for the greatest prices on materials.
