Ductwork insulation may seem boring, but it is very important for keeping a home comfortable. Building codes require that every pipe in unconditioned spaces be insulated. In conditioned rooms that is not always necessary, but in places like attics, crawlspaces and basements, that protective layer is absolutely necessary

We find two main types of ducts. Flexible ducts are made of wire wrapping covered by plastic and insulation, while rigid ducts are usually made from sheet metal. The choice of insulating method depends a lot on that, what duct you use.

Duct Insulation Basics

Commonly you advocate R-8 level for this work. It is easily installable and effectively closes the HVAC-system. Whether the duct is round or rectangular, there are special covers that wrap the pipe.

To keep everything tight and close the links, you use special tape. Also traditional wrap with foil coat is a common choise.

When you do not require vapor-retardant, you can use “unfaced” insulation. For big metal ducts, rigid board insulation with FSK-covering or other service coats are better. Fiberglass ductwrap operate as thermal and acoustic insulation for commercial or residential HVAC-systems.

Important details that you must know: supply ducts always require insulation, but return air-tubes not always. The supply duct transports cold, and without good insulation, that energy simple escapes. Even so, insulation of return ducts in the interior can help reduce noise.

Putting insulation in the interior of the pipe is not a good notion. That can cause increase of mold or introduce dirt in the air by means of gases or particles, for instance fiberglass, that irritate the breathing. Moreover, that creates wrong calculations, which means that you would require bigger and more expensive pipes to compensate the lost flow.

Even simple everyday actions release steam and moisture, which can harm the structure of the house. The right insulation fights that moisture and keeps the mold away. When you close all links to stop leaks, the air flows much better through the system.

For exterior ducts, closed cell insulation, as prime phenolic material, work best. Natural resistance against water is key so that the system lasts long and preserves its energy efficiency after the installation. Basically, it is always a good notion to insulate the ductwork.