For reasons I don't want to go into (I think the internet would crash if I typed this whole saga up) I need to seal up my supply and return registers in my ductwork. My goal is to block any natural airflow through the ducts. There is no furnace attached. The basement openings are sealed with ductboard and foil tape so they are good.
What I did for the returns and supplies throughout the living area was buy a roll of R19 6.5 inch insulation (the pink panther stuff) with paper backing. For each register, I took off the covers, cut a piece of insulation about 2 inches bigger on each side, stuffed it into the duct, overlapping the actual edges of the ductwork a bit while stuffing the full 6 inches in the duct (it compressed a bit cause the ducts are only 4 inchs deep) and then screwed the covers back on. I put it in so the paper backing was facing outwards into the room.
For the returns I set the face of the insulation (paper side out) into the grill, and smooshed it against the wall and into the return. It got pushed in *really* tight when I screwed the cover on.
I can snap some pictures and post them if that would help
I have to imagine this would stop any air naturally wafting out the ducts, just want to make sure my homebrew solution meets the approval of the pros.
What I did for the returns and supplies throughout the living area was buy a roll of R19 6.5 inch insulation (the pink panther stuff) with paper backing. For each register, I took off the covers, cut a piece of insulation about 2 inches bigger on each side, stuffed it into the duct, overlapping the actual edges of the ductwork a bit while stuffing the full 6 inches in the duct (it compressed a bit cause the ducts are only 4 inchs deep) and then screwed the covers back on. I put it in so the paper backing was facing outwards into the room.
For the returns I set the face of the insulation (paper side out) into the grill, and smooshed it against the wall and into the return. It got pushed in *really* tight when I screwed the cover on.
I can snap some pictures and post them if that would help
I have to imagine this would stop any air naturally wafting out the ducts, just want to make sure my homebrew solution meets the approval of the pros.
