If you have an old HVAC system, it obviously isn't going to be as efficient as most modern systems. That being said, homeowners usually can't afford to go out and buy brand new, modern, ultra efficient HVAC appliances. Replacing your furnace or air conditioner can cost thousands of dollars each. Luckily, there are few ways you can probably increase the overall energy efficiency of your existing system by making a few affordable improvements.

This article focuses on one particular improvement that you can do yourself. Read on to learn how you can wrap your exposed air ducts with fiberglass insulation.

Locate the Ideal Spot for Insulation

Any of the air ducts that you can see are probably worth adding insulation to. These are going to be the most susceptible to heat loss. This means that the expensively heated air that is flowing through your air ducts can be cooled down as it travels through these exposed sections. These ducting sections are often the most vulnerable because they are located in basements, garages, attics, and other rooms were the temperature is not controlled. So, they are usually much colder than the rest of your house.

Even if you don't have long sections of exposed duct in any of these rooms, you will have if you short sections that are directly attached to your furnace cabinet. That is, the section between the furnace and the wall might only be a few feet, but you can still lose a significant amount of heat near your furnace cabinet.

Install the Insulation

Before you add fiberglass insulation to your air ducts, you want to make sure that the seams are air tight. Make some adjustments, and be sure to double check your seams by turning on your heat a feeling for any air escaping near the seams. It is very likely that adding some aluminum duct tape to your seams will prevent some air loss. This will also protect your air ducts in case that they get knocked or dislodged after the insulation is applied. Even with insulation wrapped around your ducts, the seams can be a problem. So, it is a good idea to tape all of your seams, even if you don't notice any leaks.

The actual process of wrapping your ducts in insulation very self-explanatory if you just use continuous batting rolls. This can be wrapped around and taped down to ducts of any size. If you need help, you can always contact services such as One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating.