Duct Systems and Bad DuctworkBad Ductwork - Ductwork is necessary to deliver the air throughout the HVAC system. It is important that the system has integrity with no leaks. Ductwork is made of different materials. Duct systems also have different construction methods which hold the ductwork together.

Pictured above is an old ductwork system (which needs to be replaced) made of duct board, which is a rigid fiberglass board, metal, and flex ductwork. The duct board is cut to size from the ductwork sizing requirements for the tonnage and taped together with special duct tape. For the branches coming off the duct board trunk, metal collars are inserted into holes cut to size in the duct board. Flex ductwork is attached to the metal collars for the branch ductwork.

Bad Ductwork Made into Good Ductwork

The metal collar is sized to the size of the flex duct branch and the flex duct is attached to the metal collar with special duct tape and a large Panduit strap. Some HVAC installation mechanics also use a sealer in the metal collar where it is inserted into the duct board and on the flex duct connection. This makes the connection better and ensures there will be no air leaks at the connection as long as the sealer is covering all connections. Flex duct should have few turns in the runs and be pulled taught. Installed in this manner reduces the friction on the airflow by reducing turbulence in a duct system with minimal bends and turns.

Ductwork systems are also constructed of sheet metal. These sheet metal duct systems are manufactured or pre-fabricated in either round or rectangle ductwork. This ductwork can be connected either using mechanical joints called Slips and Drive, snap seams, or by screwing it together. Either way, all seams in the duct system should be sealed with the sealer to prevent any air leaks. Ductwork also needs to be insulated for a few reasons.

First of all, so that the conditioned tempered air is delivered to the designated spaces without losing all its conditioning through heat loss and heat gain as it travels through the ductwork. Secondly, the duct system needs a vapor barrier to prevent sweating when humid conditions exist outside of the ductwork.

Duct systems that are not properly insulated lose efficiency and the ducts will sweat when operating below dew point temperatures. It is like a glass of ice water sweating on a warm humid day. The water eventually accumulates and causes further problems. If the duct system is made of metal the ducts will rust. The additional insulation on the duct, if any, will become waterlogged and fall off. That reduces the R-Value of the duct system and you lose the efficiency of the system.

Bad Ductwork

A good duct system will deliver the air to the designated space with no air leaks. Additionally, it will do it with little heat loss heat gain while it traveling through the ductwork. Ductwork integrity is important for both the efficiency and longevity of your HVAC system. Without ductwork integrity (a properly sized, insulated, and sealed duct system) your HVAC system loses efficiency and will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

When you are considering replacing your HVAC system always have the duct system evaluated for proper size of the duct system (for the new system) and for airtight integrity. The HVAC estimator can do a review of your duct system including a “Manual D” sizing calculation to properly fit your new HVAC system. Then, with your new system, you can have a properly sized, insulated, and airtight duct system installed that will give you years of comfort.

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Duct Systems and Bad Ductwork