How To Insulate Sheet Metal Ductwork

Foil backed self adhesive foam duct insulation.

How to insulate sheet metal ductwork.

If you are installing preformed insulation disconnect an elbow place a plastic cap over the end of the duct and slide. Insulating hvac ductwork when insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value. How to insulate sheet metal ac ducts 1. Wrap metal duct tape around any seams you see in the ducts.

Richard trethewey helps a homeowner insulate his ductwork. Use the type of metallic foil duct tape recommended by the insulation manufacturer to seal and hold the insulation in place. Be sure to seal any rips or punctures in the vapor barrier with tape so no moisture can get in. Protect yourself from itchy fibers when working with fiberglass insulation.

Use a paintbrush to apply duct mastic to the joints where an elbow. Therefore mechanical fasteners are more advisable for usage than duct tape. Check the speed of the blower motor on the furnace. You can fasten and secure the ends of the batts with duct tape but that may cause the insulation to get spoiled.

See below for a shopping list tools and steps subscribe to this old house. Make sure the foil surface of the insulation is free of dust before applying the tape. Go to the basement or crawl space of your home. Choose a faced fiberglass.

Installs easily and wraps around irregular ductwork areas well. Lastly buy hollow core foam insulation which is easy to install as it self seals and works best with long lengths of pipe. Press a continuous strip of foil tape to all longitudinal seams along straight runs of duct. The 36 wide rolls are great for insulating sheet metal duct runs and the 9 wide rolls are great for insulating fittings.

Like any other insulation use additional layers to provide better insulation power. If necessary switch the wires to reduce the blower to its lowest. Simply unroll the fiberglass and wrap around the duct in a spiral fashion making sure to overlap the ends at least 1 to make sure that all of the exposed metal is covered.