Should You Insulate Your Range Hood Ductwork? (Answered)

We will cover what a range hood duct is, whether it should be insulated, and how to insulate your range hood duct to get the most from your HVAC.

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If you are installing a ventilation range hood, you might wonder if you should insulate your ducts.

In this article, we will cover what a range hood duct is, whether it should be insulated, and how to insulate your range hood duct to get the most out of your kitchen ventilation system.

Yes. You should insulate your ductwork. While it’s not required, however, it is recommended because ducts that leak hot air into unheated regions can add hundreds of dollars to your heating and cooling expenses, and can help keep noise levels down.

Can you insulate your vent hood ducts?

Yes. You can insulate your ductwork. It’s not required, however, it is recommended because ducts that leak hot air into unheated regions can add hundreds of dollars to your heating and cooling expenses, and can help keep noise levels down.

Image of insulated rigid ductwork. Source: adobe stock
Image of insulated rigid ductwork. Source: adobe stock
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My favorite range hood (at the moment):

COSMO COS-63190S Wall Mount Range Hood

Should you insulate your range hood ductwork? (answered) | 71ddmbmvgwl. Ac sl1500 | range hood homeland
My favorite range hood (at the moment):

COSMO COS-63190S Wall Mount Range Hood

This is one of the best hoods available at this price point. Reasonably strong CFM for the cost, and it has received rave reviews (over 3,800 reviews!). It looks great, and the LED lights provide a pleasant brightness. For the price, its performance and style are outstanding. Highly recommended!

Advantages of Insulating your range hood ductwork

There are many advantages of using insulaed range hood ductwork. One such benefit is a quite kitchen. Insulated ducts absorb more sound, making them great for the home. They also keep hot vent ai in the vents during summer, saving you mney on energy costs. Insulated range hood ducts also help prevent condensation.

What insulation should I use?

The US Department of Energy recommends rigid fiberboard insulation for ductwork insulation. Insulation should be installed by the manufacturer’s instructions. Before insulating, however, seal all ductwork openings; insulating ductwork with unsealed openings is, at best, futile.

R-6.5 to R-6.8 is the highest R-value for rigid fiberboard duct insulation, which is made of polyisocyanurate foam (polyiso for short). This type of insulation features two layers of reflective foil, a foil vapor barrier on the back, and a white foil finish on the front. R-values for rigid polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation are approximately R-5, while expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation is approximately R-3.8.

Instead of duct tape, use mastic sealant or metal tape. Duct tape does not form an effective seal and degrades rapidly.

Can I use an insulated flexible duct for a range hood?

According to the IRC, ductwork must be made of galvanized steel, stainless steel, or copper to comply with the regulations. Its interior must be smooth and airtight, and it must be watertight. Because of this, you should avoid using a flexible duct for range hood vents, especially flimsy, flexible plastic ducts. A rigid ducting such as this will be more appropriate.

If you want even more tips, check out this video called HVAC 101 Insulating round ductwork | Duct install methods (wrapping duct) from the AGL Mechanical Tips YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XSSelaUMmQ
A video called HVAC 101 Insulating round ductwork | Duct install methods (wrapping duct) from the AGL Mechanical Tips YouTube Channel.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do you still have questions? Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about kitchen ventilation filters.

What is the best duct for venting a range hood?

The best duct for a range hood is a rigid duct. It is a low-cost and long-lasting choice for your range hood vent. If you have a high CFM range hood, you will need a larger duct.

For example, if your range hood is 600 CFM, you should use 6-inch ducts. If your range hood is 900 CFM, you should use an 8-inch duct. If your rage hood is 1200 CFM, and over, you will need a 10-inch duct.

What is a rgid duct

Rigid ducting is strong and firm ductword often constructed of stainless steel. Its the most effective duct for venting a range hood is rigid duct. As long as the range hood filters are kept clean, it only has to be set up once and needs very little upkeep thereafter.

What is HVAC?

The term “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning” (HVAC) refers to a range of systems used to regulate the indoor climate, including temperature, humidity, and air quality. The intended results are a pleasant internal temperature and a healthy atmosphere.

Should the duct on a vent hood be covered?

Yes. I advise installing a stainless steel chimney over your vent hood duct to prevent any damage to the duct. Your kitchen’s ductwork will then be hidden from sight. This improves the hood’s aesthetics and serves to safeguard the duct.

Conclusion

Your air ducts are one of the most important parts of your home, and if they aren’t well sealed or insulated, they could cause your power bills to go up.

This article covered which range hoods and ducts should be insulated. Below are some key takeaways:

Key takeaways

  • Range hood ducts do not need to be insulated, but it is highly recommended.
  • Insulated range hood ducts are quitters.
  • Insulated range hood ducts help prevent condensation.

So, do you use to insulation on your ducts? And did I cover everything you wanted to know? Let me know in the comments section below (I read and reply to every comment). If you found this article helpful, check out my full blog for more tips and tricks in your kitchen. Thanks for reading, and stay safe.

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Written by Roger Harris, Staff Writer

Hey there! My name is Roger, and I've been selling range hoods for over six years. I now run this blog all about range hoods and kitchen ventilation! If you're looking for a new range hood for your kitchen, this is the place for you.

Nick eggert.
Edited by Nick Eggert, Staff Editor

Nick is our staff editor and co-founder. He has a passion for writing, editing, and website development. His expertise lies in shaping content with precision and managing digital spaces with a keen eye for detail.

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