You can do it yourself for about 500.
Add insulation to attic ducts.
When it comes to adding duct insulation your monthly savings in utility bills will soon cover the costs especially if you install the insulation yourself.
Affix rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the hatch or door.
Use the type of.
Insulation isn t only about keeping heat in.
Learn more about this important step here.
Test total duct leakage.
In a vented attic this can happen when the duct is in close proximity to conditioned space i e the ceiling and also thermally isolated from the hot attic beneath the ceiling insulation.
Consider adding more insulation as ductwork is farther from the furnace.
Mechanically fasten and mastic seal all duct connections.
This is more expensive and usually requires a contractor but it may be worth the cost especially if you live in a very cold climate.
Properly prepare the attic before adding insulation.
Then check on the recommended depth for the cellulose insulation planned for the attic.
The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft.
In more cases than not a 3 ton ac with the ducts in the attic has a ton or so of load that s just from the location of the ducts in the attic and the associated duct gains leakage etc.
The remaining 2 tons of capacity is at least 1 5x oversized for the actual 1 load.
Add weatherstripping around the perimeter and a sweep to the door of a walk up attic.
Don t use standard cloth duct tape on hvac ductwork since the adhesive won t hold up to extreme temperatures.
If you need to add insulation in your attic save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself.
Blown in insulation overview.
Measure the depth up to the top of the ducts.
You need insulation even around your ducts no matter where you live.
The duct insulation should include a vapor barrier cover.
Install loose fill insulation to cover the ducts and the attic floor to meet or exceed the code required r value for attic insulation.
If your attic has enough insulation and proper air sealing and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls.
For an added layer of protection you can apply duct mastic to the tape and duct.
How much does attic insulation cost.
If you want to cover metal ductwork.
Use a zippered insulated tent to keep the enclosure draft free attic tent at 7 attic cover insulator 120.
Pull down stair or ladder.
Attic hatch or door.
In this case the temperature gradient between supply air and the ceiling can be such that the duct surface could be cooler than the local dew point.
Check with your installer or manufacturer s website or bags to find the recommended depth 2.
When insulating hvac ductwork use a foil faced fiberglass insulation with an r 6 or higher r value.
The cost and effort to add more insulation is minimal.
Add additional sealant if necessary.
