Attic insulation is not enough for energy efficiency– having an insulation installer put in duct insulation will save you money!
Why use flexible, insulated air ducts?
You may wonder why it is important to have insulated flex ducts in your home. Why does it make a difference vs. standard ducting? The ducts listed in this section are UL181 listed, have an R-Value (insulating value) of 6 and come with a 10-year warranty. Why insulated ducts? The insulation in the ducting will prevent condensation from forming on the duct — not a good thing. Another benefit of the insulated flexible ducting is that it further reduces any “air noise” caused by the exhaust fan, so your ventilation system works even quieter.
Benefits of R-6 insulation
- It helps in your loss or gain of any heat in the ducts. In other words it helps in the utility consumption & your comfort in both winter and summer.
- For air conditioning specifically, it prevents the condensation or sweating that can occur, which reduces the energy efficiency of your AC system
- If leaks occur, it can cause a further loss of energy efficiency and / or sweating can happen. Also, when wrap insulation is pulled too tight, it causes it to lose its R value (its insulating value).
- The idea is to get the correct cost/benefit from adding insulation. Usually, insulation for ducts is R4 or R6, and it is more common to use R6. A formula used in insulation is: The actual attic air temperature minus the air temperature inside the duct & then divide result by 15. Ex: 125 degree in attic less 60 degree air inside ac duct = 65degrees then divide by 15 = R 4.3