Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient: Ductwork Insulation
Many homeowners do not realize the enormous energy savings that can be achieved, over time, by the proper installation of ductwork insulation. You may be asking yourself, "What and where should I insulate?" In general, you should try to insulate all ductwork which is exposed -- and especially if it passes through a room or any area which is not heated or cooled. You can make your home more energy-efficient if you will install ductwork insulation on your furnace ducts, air-conditioning duct work, attic and crawlspace ventilation duct work, and also cold-air return ductwork. Before You Install Ductwork Insulation Before having insulation applied to your existing ductwork you (or your contractor if you are having others do this work for you) should check and repair any loose-fitting or leaky ductwork -- this is best achieved by applying specially-designed cement or adhesive to the joints or other surfaces that need repair. For efficient installation of your ductwork insulation you or your contractor can estimate the total amount of insulating material you will need -- it is better to purchase the entire amount of ductwork insulation and have it on hand when work begins, rather than to hold up the completion of the job in order to go out and purchase an additional supply. Ductwork Insulation -- Types of Materials Available One popular type of ductwork insulation material is fiberglass. Typically this fiberglass product is manufactured with a thin layer of aluminum foil to provide a radiant heat barrier. Typically foil-faced fiberglass ductwork insulation material can be purchased in large rolls. However, some people have concerns with the use of fiberglass materials -- some believe there is evidence to suggest that fiberglass poses a health threat as a carcinogen. If you have concerns about using fiberglass in your home, you can purchase instead bubble wrap that has been backed with aluminum foil. This bubble foil insulation has two layers of aluminum foil --one on each side. This will help to keep heat from being lost through your furnace duct work, for example, by reflecting the heat back in, and the outer tinfoil layer will help to reflect room heat away from your ductwork, which makes it ideal for use on air-conditioning ducts and vents as well. In addition, if you have any stove or fireplace pipes that pass through your floors or overhead walls, you can purchase non-burning filler material to pack into these areas (as long as those pipes do not reach excessively high temperatures). Many homes have ductwork that passes overhead through an uninsulated attic. Normally, ductwork insulation should be applied for those ducts as well, as heat can be lost (in the winter) and cooling efficiency can be lost (in the summer) if those ducts remain uninsulated. |
