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Exposed ductwork can sweat just like ductwork placed behind walls, sometimes even more so. Ductwork sweats—like a cold drink on a hot day—because of a temperature imbalance between the air in the duct and the air in the room. In a crawl space or wall, this temperature can equalize faster due to the small space but in lofts and open rooms, that wouldn’t happen as quickly. Many people insulate their ducts for this reason.

The heat loss through a poorly insulated attic when you’re running your furnace or heat pump during cold weather can be as high as 25%. This means you could see significantly higher energy costs to make up for this heat loss. The cost of adding insulation to the attic may eventually pay for itself through lower energy bills. If you decide to add a radiant barrier too, the radiant barrier cost may also pay for itself over time.

Air duct insulation lasts between 10 to 15 years. How long air duct insulation lasts will depend on the material it's made of and ongoing maintenance.

To extend the life span of duct insulation, consider inspecting it periodically for signs of deterioration, water damage, or general wear and tear. Even if the insulation is in good shape, some homeowners might consider replacing it with newer, more energy-efficient insulation.

At a minimum, blown-in insulation lasts 20 to 30 years. Cellulose and sheep’s wool come from natural materials, so they likely max out at around 30 years. Fiberglass and rockwool feature artificial materials that boast lengthy lifespans, up to 50 years, or even longer in some cases. As always, this timeline assumes you don’t run into any issues, such as flooding or mold, that shorten the lifespan.