Ductwork carries cooled air from your air conditioning unit and circulates it through your home. It can also cycle stale air out of your home, which helps maintain good indoor air quality. Whether you are looking to replace existing ducts or install new ones in other areas of your home, there are several things to consider. The first is what kind of ducts you need for your system.
Whether on the interior or exterior of the system, a fiberglass lining insulates the ducts to prevent heat loss or condensation. An advantage of this type of ductwork is that it helps to reduce the noise of your HVAC system.
Constructed from boards of compressed resin-bonded, inorganic glass fibre boards, this type of duct has a foil face on the outside that creates a barrier against escaping air and water vapour. Installation of fibreboard air ducts is typically the least expensive option.
Sheet metal air ducts are made of aluminium or galvanized steel. They are the most common type of air duct and also the most durable. Their non-porous surface means they are unlikely to develop mould or other harmful biological growth.
Unlike the types of ducts mentioned above, flexible air ducts are exactly what they say they are: flexible. Constructed with a spring steel, spiral helix, this type of duct is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install. This option is extremely useful in tricky and unusual spaces but, unlike rigid air duct options, it must be firmly supported and secured to prevent sagging, kinks, or bends.