Earlier the ducts are made of sheet metal they were durable and almost lasted forever providing unrestricted airflow, but they were costly. This is why they are replaced by flexible ducts. These ducts have many advantages.
Why Flexible Ducting Work?
The flexible ducting is now growing very popular as the best alternative in comparison to metal works that is traditional. They are very beneficial because:
The flexible ducting is cheaper, so you can save money and spend it on other things. You can spend on remodeling the furniture or custom painting. This will actually make sense for the company.
Since the materials are cheaper, the professional charges will also be affordable.
The installation is cheap, so you do not need to hire experienced labor. The normal labors can install them in tight spaces. This is not possible with metal ducts.
If you have sharp corners and a lot of angles, then the flexible ductwork is the best option.
What Is Required for Flexible Ductwork?
It is known that the HVAC ductwork needs to be located in a designated chase that will maximize the efficiency of the airflow. The flexible ducting can actually speed the installation by reducing the number of joints. But the installation needs care like for example:
All the ducts need to be sealed with mastic for better performance of the ductwork. This is mainly for those that run through dropped ceiling or soffit.
The installation of flexible ducting should be done with the things that you require. It is important to avoid friction. If you need a strong air flow, and then you have to plan for short and straight runs especially during the phase of design.
The airflow ducts can be compromised by sharp turns or even kinks. The compression that happens in the duct run will gradually reduce the airflow.
Things to Keep in Mind While Installing Flexible Ducting
The heating and cooling of the home may become an expensive thing if the ducts are not sealed properly. So, it is important to get it sealed and insulated properly. If not done you are actually wasting up to 40% of cooling and heating energy. This will also increase the utility bills and add to the wear and tear of the HVAC system. Hence it is vital that the flexible ducting has to be sealed and insulated that runs through unconditioned spaces. This will also prevent the dust and the entry of other potential allergens from entering the system. This also causes allergic problems and breathing problems in the future. There are certain tips that can be followed.
Inspect the loose joints of the air ducts. If so then insulate it and secure the loose connections with proper clamps. Especially for flexible ducting.
The joints have to be sealed between the duct junctions. The small holes have to be sealed with mastic and foil tape.
If you have to seal larger holes, then you need to use a combination of mastic over the fiberglass mesh.
The air ducts have to be surrounded especially in unconditioned spaces.
The entire job of installing and sealing the ductwork has to be done with the help of a professional. They have to be trained and from a reputed company. They will have the accurate knowledge of the system and will also guide you to understand the concept of the ductwork. If you have selected the ducts properly and installed it accurately, then it will definitely run smoothly. They will also save you from long-term maintenance cost.
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