Question:

For the cold air side you could use a pricey but effective self stick foil and (I’m not sure what the innards are, foam I think).  Read the label before installing it on the warm air side. It is sold at Lowes so I feel pretty sure HD has it also. I think it was in the furnace ducts department. I am having a new system installed at one unit tomorrow. I know they are insulating the warm air side with something.  I’ll try to get you a brand name or at least a better description. Colbyt

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have a gas furnace.  I noticed that the main cold air return is not insulated (probably a better term but I don’t know it) and also the distribution box (i’m sure theres a better term, but its where all the ducts meet at the furnace). These two items are not insulated.  I went to Home Depot and didn’t quite see anything that I could use execpt a water heater jacket, guess I’ll need two of them to cover the two items. Any ideas? thanks in advance, kelly

Response:

R-6 duct wrap is what you need…fairly cheap, and easy to install. — www.carolinabreezehvac.com www.ebaystores.com/id=19893971

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have a gas furnace.  I noticed that the main cold air return is not insulated (probably a better term but I don’t know it) and also the distribution box (i’m sure theres a better term, but its where all the ducts meet at the furnace). These two items are not insulated.  I went to Home Depot and didn’t quite see anything that I could use execpt a water heater jacket, guess I’ll need two of them to cover the two items. Any ideas? thanks in advance, kelly

Response:

If the return air itself is not much different in temp than the space it runs thru, (like a finished basement) the payback of insulating a return duct is minimal if at all, and not worth bothering with. Rick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have a gas furnace.  I noticed that the main cold air return is not insulated (probably a better term but I don’t know it) and also the distribution box (i’m sure theres a better term, but its where all the ducts meet at the furnace). These two items are not insulated.  I went to Home Depot and didn’t quite see anything that I could use execpt a water heater jacket, guess I’ll need two of them to cover the two items. Any ideas? thanks in advance, kelly

Response:

I am finishing my basement. I will be putting in sound proofing insulation in the ceiling.  Will this be sufficiant, so I don’t have to wrap the heater runs?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If the return air itself is not much different in temp than the space it runs thru, (like a finished basement) the payback of insulating a return duct is minimal if at all, and not worth bothering with. Rick Hi All, I have a gas furnace.  I noticed that the main cold air return is not insulated (probably a better term but I don’t know it) and also the distribution box (i’m sure theres a better term, but its where all the ducts meet at the furnace). These two items are not insulated.  I went to Home Depot and didn’t quite see anything that I could use execpt a water heater jacket, guess I’ll need two of them to cover the two items. Any ideas? thanks in advance, kelly

Response:

Hi All, I have a gas furnace.  I noticed that the main cold air return is not insulated (probably a better term but I don’t know it) and also the distribution box (i’m sure theres a better term, but its where all the ducts meet at the furnace). These two items are not insulated.  I went to Home Depot and didn’t quite see anything that I could use execpt a water heater jacket, guess I’ll need two of them to cover the two items. Any ideas? thanks in advance, kelly

Response: