Most people take winterizing their homes seriously, especially in Monmouth County, where winters are often very severe. While the air ducts that move heated air throughout your home should be tested for leaks as part of an annual HVAC maintenance plan, these ducts are typically not insulated, which can result in expensive heat loss.
The areas through which ducts are routed – including the attic, basement, garage and crawlspace – usually lack climate control, which causes warm air to pass through cold environments before entering your living space. Insulating your air ducts can save you up to 30 percent on winter energy costs, while greatly improving the warmth and comfort of your home.
Types of Duct Insulation
The most common types of duct insulation are sleeve-style and blanket wraps, which easily wrap around ductwork. To install sleeves, your ductwork must be disassembled to slide the sleeve, or it can be slit to more easily fit your duct.
- Self-adhesive foam installs easily, even around irregular ductwork. It’s usually available in rolls one foot in width and several feet long. If you choose this type of insulation, only use insulation specifically formulated for covering ductwork. Many foam insulation products are highly flammable and toxic.
- Fiberglass and cotton insulation commonly include an aluminum foil backing. They’re also available in rolls usually a foot wide by several feet long. These are lower in cost, but their efficiency depends on proper installation.
- Foil-backed bubble wrap is usually the least expensive type of duct insulation, but it may not perform as well as others. Because it’s primarily a reflective, rather than padded, form of insulation, special spacers will be required to provide an air gap between the duct and product.
Adding insulation to your home’s ductwork can make an obvious difference in your family’s comfort and utility bills. For more expert information on insulating air ducts in your home, please contact Aggressive Mechanical Contractors, Inc. We’ve been serving the Greater Monmouth County area for three generations.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Monmouth County, New Jersey and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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