Duct Insulation Part 2

Last weekend we spent time at a Healing Arts Festival. There were various health and healing venues and a couple of technology type booths. We displayed our green technology for the home showing air, water, and laundry solutions for a cleaner environment. It was educational and successful.
 This week we will discuss two of the alternatives for duct insulation other than fiberglass.
One is a product called Reflectix, which is a bubble wrap coated on both sides by a foil coating. It is very clean and easy to use and relatively inexpensive. It is used for wrapping as well as lining the ducts. The insulation value is achieved through the air bubbles in the material. I recommend this for homeowners to wrap any metal ducts exposed to unconditioned space. It is easy to work with and clean-(you won't itch afterward). Be sure to use spray adhesive.
 The other product is a rubber type similar to the black insulation on the suction line of your home air conditioner. It comes in various thicknesses for lining the ducting. It is fairly clean but used mainly by HVAC contractors in their fabrication shops.
For more info e-mail us. rick@rlenvirocare.com

See Ya Next Week

This week we are participating in a Healing Arts Festival sharing our Green Technology Healthy Living Products in Springfield Missouri. For more info see www.ecobusiness.com/rvs/products.
Have a great weekend.

Duct Insulation

This week we take a look at the various duct insulation material. The most common in use of course is fiberglass. This is the least expensive so far but has the obvious drawbacks. Most of us recognize the 1" thick wrap that looks like batt insulation but thinner, or the foil backed 1" thick wrap. These have good insulating properties but the obvious discomfort and health issues with installing them. The rectangular ducting in most small and large commercial applications has duct liner on the inside of the duct. For the first couple of years after a system is installed the liner remains intact after the initial blowout of fibers upon start up. However the fiberglass does deteriorate over time and fibers start to come loose. Yes on the supply side we are breathing this. On the return air side if it is pre-filter it can be captured. This does cause a problem when dealing with IAQ issues and the VOC's in the indoor environment. There is a common practice over the last 10 years or so to have schools and hospitals with exterior wrap insulation, done by professional insulators. This has worked out very well. However in the small commercial and residential market it has not been cost effective to this point. There are alternatives and we will look at some of those next time.

Faulty Filter Racks

I was going to write about duct insulation, but after an air filtration project I just completed, I had to address the common problem of filter racks in both residential and commercial applications. This particular furnace was a downflow unit with the filters on top. The home owner is expected to slide a pair of filters up past the blower and fit them in a "V" configuration with the little rack in the top of the furnace. It is convenient for the manufacturer and installer but not for the homeowner. The problem is the filters never go in correctly and there is an air gap around the frame for dirty air to bypass the filters. I suggest a better approach.
Contact us at www.rlenvirocaremo.comm