Enclosing Insulated HVAC Ductwork w/Soffits

[Lou N]

All,

I want to build some soffits around my HVAC duct work so I can sheet rock for finishing. The duct work is wrapped with foil covered insulation. Should I leave the insulation in place or remove it?

Seems like it would make sense to leave it for efficiency.

Thanks

 

[n20junkie]

Leave it on. It will only help.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I had the duct work in my ranch house with garage/basement underneath up-sized to meet the actual air flow requirements a few years ago. The ducts in the garage had always been visible - not in bulkheads/soffits.

I built a framework of 2 x 2's, stuffed in fiberglass and rocked it with 5/8 fire rock.

The new ducts were properly sealed and insulated so now the garage doesn't steal conditioned air from the house in the summer or heated air in the winter.

So leave the insulation and add more is my answer.

Jim