Insulate Return Ducts In Attic

Summer hasn t even arrived he notes in a post at gba s q a forum and when the temperature outside climbs to more than 95 f the temperature in the attic tops 120 f.

Insulate return ducts in attic.

Although both the attic floor and the ductwork are insulated ted recognizes the situation isn t ideal. R 8 duct insulation 5 227 btu hour. Be careful as you choose from the various insulation options. Insulating a leaky or undersized duct system is a waste of money.

If using this technique in a humid or marine climate the ducts must be encapsulated with spray foam before installing the blown insulation. Looking at the cooling side only the additional load would be. According to rightsuite the software we use the supply ducts have about 560 square feet of surface area and the return ducts 101 square feet. If you want to install cut and cobble insulation on your attic ducts.

Today s flexible ductwork is covered with a shiny metallic cover this is its vapor barrier. If you need help deciding which type of insulation you need set up an energy consultation. That has kept the ventilator working but ted surmises the high. The two most common ways to insulate ductwork are wrapping the duct in a foil faced blanket.

Purchase duct wrap insulation that complies with the 2009 international energy conservation code iecc standards that specify an r value of 8 for attic ducts and 6 for ducts located anywhere else. Make sure that the rigid foam is secure. Is it ok to do it. Some insulation types offer high promises but fail to consistently perform in the field.

Come up with a plan for insulating the underside of the ducts. As you consider adding insulation first be sure the duct system is delivering proper airflow. Install loose fill insulation to cover the ducts and the attic floor to meet or exceed the code required r value for attic insulation. Add additional sealant if necessary.

First seal the duct seams with mastic. Covering ductwork with insulation. I would use foil faced polyiso which is the easiest type of foam to tape and tape it securely 3. Hvac ductwork is typically visible in your attic especially flexible ductwork.