insulation

[qclabrat]

I will doing an energy audit this weekend and assume my findings will point to better insulation. My home is 20 years old with Andersen casements/doors and an unfinished basement. I plan on doing a thorough job on insulating the basement before finishing it myself. But I'm not certain on the best way to insulate the duct work. Are there any products out there better than others? I've use the silver backing fiberglass insulation and thermal bubble wrap type, both moderate in performance in my opinion. I've always been surprised that there isn't anything better out there that I've come across considering that a primarily culprit to heat loss is when it travels from the furnace to the vents.

Any help you can point me to would be appreciated.

[commerce48]

I will doing an energy audit this weekend and assume my findings will point to better insulation. My home is 20 years old with Andersen casements/doors and an unfinished basement. I plan on doing a thorough job on insulating the basement before finishing it myself. But I'm not certain on the best way to insulate the duct work. Are there any products out there better than others? I've use the silver backing fiberglass insulation and thermal bubble wrap type, both moderate in performance in my opinion. I've always been surprised that there isn't anything better out there that I've come across considering that a primarily culprit to heat loss is when it travels from the furnace to the vents.

Any help you can point me to would be appreciated.

Is your furnace in the basement? If so, you don't need insulation. Just seal the ducts.

[genduct]

If you are also cooling then you need insulation to stop the sweating and besides delivering air close to the design temp also helps you keep all the spaces within 3 degrees
Use standard duct wrap. Take a piece of bubble wrap outside and usee a lighter on one corner and see what happens and you'll know why!

[tipsrfine]

I will doing an energy audit this weekend and assume my findings will point to better insulation. My home is 20 years old with Andersen casements/doors and an unfinished basement. I plan on doing a thorough job on insulating the basement before finishing it myself. But I'm not certain on the best way to insulate the duct work. Are there any products out there better than others? I've use the silver backing fiberglass insulation and thermal bubble wrap type, both moderate in performance in my opinion. I've always been surprised that there isn't anything better out there that I've come across considering that a primarily culprit to heat loss is when it travels from the furnace to the vents.

Any help you can point me to would be appreciated.

When you say you will be doing an "energy audit", just what are you meaning?What type of equipment will you be using, what knowledge to you have on what to look for and how to find it?
Sorry if I am insulting you by asking, I just don't recognize you from any other threads, so I have no idea.

[commerce48]

If you are also cooling then you need insulation to stop the sweating and besides delivering air close to the design temp also helps you keep all the spaces within 3 degrees

I'm not following this advice. Unfinished basement. Why bring to within 3 degrees of the rest of the house? And if so, what benefit comes from the insulation?

Also, our good friend TeddyBear would probably say that ducts sweating in basements is because of poor humidity control, not duct insulation.

Attic? Whole different ball game.

[qclabrat]

thanks commerce,
so I should only seal the joints in the duct work?
wouldn't insulating the ducts near the furnace minimize heat loss?

[qclabrat]

tiprfine,
no insult taken, not a professional audit but a simple home check to identify obvious areas of heat loss

[genduct]

Commerce, if this person is NOT going to start their unit up and leave it on between April til October then every time they start the unit up THERE WILL BE SWEATING DUCTS agreed? That's why they need to be insulated.
The 3 degree comment( for all rooms) had to do with not having the delivery temp vary because of heat duct transfer and hence confuse the design CFMs that are based on a Design Temp. That's why they should be insulated

[tipsrfine]

tiprfine,
no insult taken, not a professional audit but a simple home check to identify obvious areas of heat loss

At least look into the science of "building science" before thinking a simple "home check" will suffice. Most heat loss in a building is not obvious to the untrained person. There really is a lot of knowledge you have to soak up before you can do it right.

[teddy bear]

I'm not following this advice. Unfinished basement. Why bring to within 3 degrees of the rest of the house? And if so, what benefit comes from the insulation?

Also, our good friend TeddyBear would probably say that ducts sweating in basements is because of poor humidity control, not duct insulation.

Attic? Whole different ball game.

WOW! I am choke-up. Thanks for the recognition.
Another good reason to keep the dew point low in the basement is the cold concrete, masonary floor and walls.
The effect of cold metal ducts in cool deep basement tend to over-cool the space. Some insulation may reduce possible over-cooling.
A good dehu will keep the basement dry enough to avoid condensation and provide <50%RH throughout the home. While you are at it, add enough fresh air to provide an air change in the occupied home every 5-6 hours. This is important during calm warmer weather.

[Shophound]

Is your furnace in the basement? If so, you don't need insulation. Just seal the ducts.



Sealing ducts is good. Sealing and insulating them is better, even if they're in conditioned space. Deliver the air and its intended heat content to each room, don't lose it along the way.