Insulate Return Ducts In Attic

As you consider adding insulation first be sure the duct system is delivering proper airflow.

Insulate return ducts in attic.

Today s flexible ductwork is covered with a shiny metallic cover this is its vapor barrier. All the ducts are in the attic. That has kept the ventilator working but ted surmises the high. First seal the duct seams with mastic.

R 8 duct insulation 5 227 btu hour. Make sure that the rigid foam is secure. Come up with a plan for insulating the underside of the ducts. Be careful as you choose from the various insulation options.

I would use foil faced polyiso which is the easiest type of foam to tape and tape it securely 3. If you want to install cut and cobble insulation on your attic ducts. Install loose fill insulation to cover the ducts and the attic floor to meet or exceed the code required r value for attic insulation. 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.

Looking at the cooling side only the additional load would be. The two most common ways to insulate ductwork are wrapping the duct in a foil faced blanket. Some insulation types offer high promises but fail to consistently perform in the field. If you need help deciding which type of insulation you need set up an energy consultation.

Covering ductwork with insulation. Is it ok to do it. Although both the attic floor and the ductwork are insulated ted recognizes the situation isn t ideal. 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.

If using this technique in a humid or marine climate the ducts must be encapsulated with spray foam before installing the blown insulation. Hvac ductwork is typically visible in your attic especially flexible ductwork. Add additional sealant if necessary. The shiny vapor barrier will protect the ductwork from sweating as long as it s exposed to the surrounding air.