Ductwork is the delivery system for heated or cooled air disbursement throughout a building. Although the most basic ducting is made from sheet metal, most of the ducting in residential applications is insulated. Insulation is measured using an R-value, which is a unit of thermal resistance. Therefore, the higher the value, the more effective the insulation. Examples are the R6 and R8 ducting systems. Further we will compare R6 vs R8 ducting and review pros and cons of both.
Differences between R6 and R8 Ducting Systems
- Thickness in insulting material
The thickness in the ducting materials used to make R6 and R8 ducting is one of the glaring differences between the two. R8 ducting uses thicker insulation than R6 ducting. This means that if you were to do air conditioning installation using R8 ducting, you get better insulation than if you are using R6 ducting.
- Efficiency of heat insulation
When it comes to efficiency of heat insulation R6 ducting is less efficient than R8 ducting. R8 reduces energy loss by approximately 2 percent, which is equivalent to consuming less energy by 3 percent.
- Cost
R8 ducting comes with a wider diameter than that of R6 ducting and thus will cost more. The higher cost of R8 ducting could also be due to its efficiency in insulation and energy saving. So, if you are doing ducting installation with R8 ducting, be prepared to pay more for it.
R6 Ducting Pros and Cons
Pros of R6 Ducting:
- R6 is more affordable than R8 ducting, meaning you pay less for material cost.
- R6 has a smaller exterior diameter and is more flexible.
- R6 offers greater thermal efficiency than R-4 ducting.
Cons of R6 Ducting:
- Using R6 ducting in your ducting installation means you get a less efficient HVAC system.
R8 Ducting Pros and Cons
Pros of R8 ducting:
- R8 ducting offers greater thermal efficiency due to its thicker insulation.
- Due to the efficiency of R8 ducting your energy utility bills are lower
Cons of R8 ducting:
- Using R8 ducting when doing your air conditioning installation costs more compared to R6 ducting.
- R8 ducting is thicker and might not properly replace lower diameter R6 when you decide to upgrade your ducting installation.
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