| Installing HVAC in a Conditioned Space, with the Help of Icynene® | |
Leaky ductwork and equipment in crawlspaces or unconditioned attics can draw in unhealthy air. Locating the ducts in conditioned space eliminates this problem and can reduce heating and cooling costs by 20 to 35 percent. Insulating and sealing the attic roofline with Icynene® soft foam insulation and air barrier material is a straightforward way of placing the system in conditioned space. Robert Black founded Access of Sarasota in 1994. He averages about 30 remodeling and building projects and $0.5 million in sales annually, primarily in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. After more than 40 years in the construction industry, Black now specializes in aging-in-place retrofits. Many of his older clients are especially concerned about rising energy costs. "We sell energy efficiency to people who plan on living in their homes for the rest of their lives, so energy costs are an important consideration for their overall lifetime costs” says Black. “Putting the ducts in conditioned space and insulating the attic roofline helps us cut our customers' energy costs." The ductwork is hung in the conditioned attic, which is insulated with Icynene® sprayed foam. "Instead of putting the insulation in the attic floor, we put it up against the roof," Black says. "It gives you a much more energy-efficient shell. By using Icynene® foam insulation, it completely seals everything, and it gives you more room to run ductwork on the attic floor." This isn't difficult, but spraying Icynene® in the unvented attic's roofline to create conditioned space does change how the duct work should be hung and necessitates bringing make-up air into the home. | |
| • | Reduced HVAC requirements "By insulating the attic and knee walls, we were able to downsize the mechanical unit by half a ton," Black says. "We were right on the edge between 2-1/2 and 3 tons, but because there were so many windows, we opted for 3 tons.” |
| • | Saved money on duct board “We also saved about $120 on the cost of duct board by using 1" instead of 1-1/2" because the ducts were in conditioned space. |
| • | Lowered energy costs by 20-30% allowing for payback of initial Icynene® investment "The cost to spray Icynene® along the attic roofline of this 2,000-square-foot home will be more than made up over time, because insulating the attic roofline and installing the ductwork in conditioned space will reduce total energy cost by 20 to 30 percent.” |
| • | Added usable space with a more comfortable ambient temperature for storage ”Spraying the roofline also gives you some additional useable storage in the attic where the temperature is only 10 degrees above air-conditioned temperatures in the living areas. This helps solve a storage problem, since the high water table in coastal Florida prevents us from installing basements.” |
| Improving durability and comfort | |
| • | Sealed soffit vents for protection against high winds and moisture ingress "It will provide added protection against water infiltration from hurricanes as well," says Black. "Because we insulated below the roof deck, we didn't use vented soffits," Black continues. "After the last two years of hurricanes in Florida, we found out that a lot of wind-driven rain was getting in through the soffit areas.” |
| • | Minimized condensation on ductwork and related problems like mold ”It also keeps the hot, humid air in the summer from coming in contact with the ductwork or other cool parts of the building, which can cause condensation and then mold.” |
| • | More comfortable temperature in the attic ”Instead of having attic temperatures in the 130-degree range, the attic temperature will be in the 80-90 degree range. In addition, by installing the insulation in the roof early on, we're also keeping the temperature more stable inside while we're working, which makes a big difference in Florida." |
| To contact your local Icynene Licensed Dealer, click here. | |
Source: http://www.hgtvpro.com | |