Nj Insulated Duct Unconditioned Attic

9 out of 10 homes in the u s.

Nj insulated duct unconditioned attic.

Home insulation in new jersey. The 1 800 square foot brick ranch in climate zone 4 dates from the 1960s but the previous owner installed both a furnace and ductwork in the attic just four years ago. Ted has more than a few cobwebs in his attic. Batts in narrow cavities are cut to fit or narrow cavities are filled by sprayed blown insulation.

Granted the insulation on that duct has surpassed it life expectancy and my duct resides in the unconditioned attic. Air permeable insulation is inside of an air barrier. Aminimum duct insulation r value cooling and heating only supply ducts and return ducts duct location climate zone exterior ventilated attic unvented attic above insulated ceiling unvented attic with roof insulationa unconditioned spaceb indirectly conditioned spacec buried heating only ducts 1 2 none none none none none none none. If the ducts in your home are in unconditioned space seal and insulate them.

If the hrv is located in a vented unconditioned attic usually a bad idea in a cold climate but perhaps possible in zone 4 then you also want to make sure that the ducts conveying fresh air from the hrv to the registers are insulated and you will also want to insulate the ducts conveying stale air from your exhaust grilles to the hrv so. The ducting currently rests on the attic joist which causes any residual r value from disintegrating insulation to be non existent. Common attic air leaks this image shows how and where air can easily escape from a home s attic. Air permeable insulation is not used as a sealing material.

The unconditioned space also houses his hvac system. Insulation acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain particularly in roofs and ceilings walls and floors. In many homes insulation in combination with air sealing is the most practical and cost effective way to make a house more energy efficient keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter and saving up to 40 per cent in heating and cooling bills. If the air distribution is in the attic space then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space.

Duct shafts utility penetrations knee walls and flue shafts opening to exterior or unconditioned space are sealed.