How to Insulate a Round Duct in a Basement

Homes with forced air heating systems are heated by a series of ducts that carry warm air from the furnace and go throughout the house, blowing the warm air through registers cut into the walls, floor or ceiling. One drawback to this system is that heat can be lost by radiating out from the ducts and into your basement, which forces your furnace to work longer to replace the lost heat. You can reduce or eliminate this problem by insulating the ducts.

Tape measure
Rolled fiberglass insulation
Safety goggles
Gloves
Mask
Utility knife
Metallic foil tape
Assistant

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the circumference of the duct.
- 2
  Measure and cut pieces of rolled fiberglass insulation to fit the circumference of the duct, with a utility knife.
- 3
  Cut a piece of metallic foil tape and place it along one edge of the insulation. Place it on the foil side of the insulation, but leave half of the tape off the insulation.
- 4
  Wrap the insulation around the duct, securing it by placing the exposed half of the foil tape over the other end of the insulation where the two ends come into contact. You may need assistance with this.
- 5
  Install insulation along the rest of the duct using the same process.
- 6
  Cover the joints between adjoining pieces of insulation with the metallic foil tape.

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