HVAC duct insulation?

[Bulldog13]

Is there any way to insulate the ac air handler ? Just bought this house and the AC unit is in the garage.We are in Venice FL so the garage gets hot and there’s condensation usually on the grey unit casing. I’m sure it’s expected with the heat but I was wondering if there’s anything I can do about it. The units a Rudd installed in 2024….

 

[dcg9381]

Don't you just love it when they install the air handlers in spaces like attics and garages? I can't tell how much space you have between the handler and the entry door, but you could certainly frame all that out a bit and insulate it....

Make sure that pan has a float in it, even with secondary drain...

 

[Bulldog13]

Don't you just love it when they install the air handlers in spaces like attics and garages? I can't tell how much space you have between the handler and the entry door, but you could certainly frame all that out a bit and insulate it....

Make sure that pan has a float in it, even with secondary drain...

It has a float switch and drain…I think they leave it open for easy maintenance but this is my first house with the handler in the garage

 

[dcg9381]

It has a float switch and drain…I think they leave it open for easy maintenance but this is my first house with the handler in the garage

All good. Some of them are setup with secondary drains and without a float, if the secondary drain is plugged, you end up with a mess.

I'd just "fur" that out, frame around it, insulate it, and add an insulated door. Maybe use foam panels in the framing.

The problem is going to be if the unit still "sweats" you've got an very enclosed are with high moisture. But it's sweating because you've got a cool air handler in contact with high humidity higher temp air.

 

[karoc]

You may take off panel and see no insulation on metal panels. Or insulation has **** off, now on the blower wheel or squirrel cage

 

[Ohmthis]

The short answer is Yes you can. They make “duct wrap” fiberglass insulation with a foil back. They also have foil/bubble/foil, but it’s more to me of a vapor barrier than true insulation. The key is to keep the warm/hot/ humid air off of the metal parts.

 

[danski0224]

Is there any way to insulate the ac air handler ?

Those cabinets are typically insulated from the factory.

You may need to enclose it in an insulated closet of sorts, as mentioned previously.

 

[BurtEggley]

the humid garage air hits the cold metal, and condenses just like a glass with ice sweats. Adding insulation may not stop the unit from slowly sweating because the moisture will still get to it thru open cell or fiberglass insulation (if you choose to use fiberglass or open cell - which is usually the least costly). Also adding insulation right to a heater, if it has burners in it, can be a fire hazard if the wrong kind of insulation is used. To stop sweating you need one of these: closed cell insulation, insulation and a vapor barrier, or put it in conditioned space where the humidity is lower. Me, I'd build an enclosure and find a way to condition that space. Keep in mind that if it is also a gas furnace, there will be an issue with air supply to the burners. Putting a fan on it may make the sweating worse if it simply makes more moist air flow across it.