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You don’t need to remove old insulation before adding new insulation. As long as the old insulation is still in good shape—not wet, physically damaged, or moldy—then you can stack new insulation on top of old insulation to get a compounding effect. You can also mix different types of insulation, like adding blown-in insulation around existing fiberglass batt insulation or installing rigid insulation boards over rafters in your attic that already have batt insulation installed. If your existing insulation is very old or damaged, though, you’ll likely see more benefit from removing it and replacing it instead.

Yes, spray foam insulation can be applied to your ductwork and effectively insulate your ducts. Blanket insulation is the easiest insulation product to DIY since it is easy to wrap around ducts. However, spray foam insulation can also benefit your HVAC system if applied to air ducts.

On it own, aluminum siding has a relatively low insulation value (also called R-value); aluminum siding has an R-value of 0.61. However, you can purchase insulated aluminum siding to increase the R-value to between 2 and 5. You can also install additional insulation within your walls to help maintain temperatures within your home. On average, insulation costs $1,825 to install throughout the typical home.

Each insulation type has its own R-value, so you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of your materials when deciding which one will give you the best value. Energy.gov recommends you choose a pipe wrap that’s at least one inch thick. The International Code Council (ICC) suggests choosing a pipe material with an R-value of at least 3.