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Types of Ductwork 

Whether you are getting new ductwork, a replacement, or even cleaning services, you will need to understand what type of ductwork you have. We discuss the types of ductworks below to help you understand them better. 

Sheet Metal Ducts

Metal ductworks are made of steel or galvanized steel. They are in oval, round or rectangle shape. 

 They are the most durable and long-lasting types of ductwork. Also, molds are least likely to thrive in them. 

The worry with metal would generally be rust. However, aluminum and galvanized steel are generally rustproof, especially those with zinc coating. 

Flex Duct

Flexible ducts are usually the to-go option in trick areas where rigid ducts won’t pass through. 

Flexible ducts are steel wire spiral-wrapped in a bendable plastic called a polymer. Insulation then surrounds them. 

We often recommend flex ducts because they are:

• lightweight, 
• inexpensive, 
• easy to install. 

Fiberboard Duct

A fiberboard duct is composed of a layer of compressed resin-bonded inorganic fiberglass encased in foil. The encasing prevents water vapor and air from penetrating the air ducts. 

We recommend fiberboard duct because they:

• reduce the noise of airflow, 
• are the least expensive, 
• are already well-insulated. 

Remember that old fiberboard glass is not treated to prevent mildew or mold growth. If you have old fiberboard, do not attempt to clean them on your own. You may release mold and fiberglass into your living space. This is a health threat to people in your household. 

 It is better to call for professional duct cleaning services in this case. 

Why You Need to Have a Properly Functioning HVAC Ductwork Network 

Often, people focus on the HVAC heating unit and forget about the well-being of their air ducts. 

We recommend that you get regular duct maintenance services to keep them in good shape. If you take good care of your air ducts, you will enjoy:

• Lower energy bills
• Quieter operation
• Even temperatures throughout your home
• Proper cooling and heating to all floors of the home
• Moisture control
• Highly efficient HVAC system
• Cleaner air

These are the benefits you enjoy daily when you have a proper system. However, these will let your HVAC ductwork serve you for longer in the long run. 

And to keep your ductwork in good shape, you need to understand the problems associated with the ductwork. This way, you can know when to call for professional help or take action. We look at common issues that face ductworks below. 

Signs That Your Air Ducts are Bad and Need work

Here are tell-tale signs of an issue, and you need to seek quick HVAC ductwork services. 

Hot & Cold Spots

This is the top sign that your duct network has issues. For instance, if you step into a room upstairs and find that it is hot. However, when you walk downstairs, you find noticeably colder air. 

The first step in such an instance should be to use a thermometer to confirm. If you find a difference in more than 3 degrees, give an HVAC professional a call; there is an issue. 

At HVAC Santa Clarita, we will:

• pinpoint the cause of the issue, 
• come up with a plan to solve the problem, 
• let you know and finally put the plan into action. 

Little Or No Air Flow From Supply from the vent 

What is the airflow from the supply vent like? If the air is negligible, that is a sign that you need to take some action. 

 How do you check this? You can use a sheet of paper in front of the supply opening. The paper should bend. If not, there is something preventing airflow. 

 On the good side, the damper on your register is blocked and simply requires a reopening. However, if this does not work, feel free to contact us. Our team of HVAC professionals will do the troubleshooting and fixing for you. 

High Utility Bills

If you notice an unexplained yet steady rise in your monthly utility bills, you may want to inspect the working condition of your air ducts. 

If your bills are on the rise, there may be air escaping from your ducts. Yes, if already conditioned air escapes from your duct network, it will reflect on your utility bills. 

A lot of time, people do not notice early. This is why you need to keep an eye on your monthly utility bills. If you notice something is off, call for HVAC professionals to check for possible air leaks. 

Loud Noise

It is normal for HVAC systems to make noise. However, the noise is often gentle and disappears in the background. Therefore, when your HVAC system is making loud rattling or whistling noises, that could indicate that you have disconnected, loose or damaged air ducts. 

Do not ignore it if you hear this, as they can worsen pretty quickly. 

Low Indoor Air Quality 

How will you know your indoor air quality is deteriorating? First, if you notice the dust on your surfaces is increasing day by day, there is a problem. Secondly, if everyone starts sneezing in the house, duct and pollen have seeped into your living space. This can be especially bad for people who have allergies. 

The debris and pollutants seep into your space through loose connections or holes in your air ducts. 

Problems Associated with bad ductwork 

Why do the problems associated with ductwork come up? What would lead to the problems discussed above?

From the word go, homeowners tend to ignore these problems until the problem is out of hand. If you discover these issues, contact us for an HVAC expert immediately. 

Duct Leaks

Leaks result in reduced airflow. Therefore, your system will have to work overtime to achieve the desired temperature whenever it is cold. 

Also, duct leaks allow pollutants and contaminants into your airflow. Leaks will result in:

• less comfort, 
• higher bills, 
• reduced air quality.

If you notice duct leaks, you will have to call for patching leaks. Patching leaks can be performed in several ways:

• heated caulk, 
• specially-lined tape, 
• a particular type of paint that seals the leak. 

These are just minor modifications if things are still within a manageable spectrum. However, if it is too late, you will need to get an entire ductwork replacement. 

Oversizing

Oversizing is a rare problem, but it does occur mainly in older houses. The older houses with gravity furnaces often come with huge ductworks. 

When you have massive ductwork, you need to get ductwork replacement. When replacing oversized ductworks, you need an HVAC expert to size for the new equipment. 

With oversized ductwork, your system will:

• not run long enough to eliminate moisture from the living space, 
• uneven temperatures through your time, 
• longer run times for the equipment because the air moves through a wider path. 

Undersizing

Airflow in an HVAC system is measured in cubic feet per minute. However, if your system cannot achieve the required CFM(1) for the equipment, all sorts of problems will hit you. These include:

• reduced comfort, 
• lowered lifespan on your equipment, 
• Higher utility bills. 

In short, if your system is narrow, it will not choke your system. Think of these as your veins. If your veins are too narrow to supply blood to your system, your entire system will suffer. 

Installation Faults

This is such a common error. You must have seen ductworks that twist and curve in all directions. This is such a terrible problem that you need to solve quickly. 

Suppose the installer did not know any better or did not just care. This kind of negligence results in reduced airflow. It even becomes a more serious problem in tricky spaces such as floors, walls and ceilings. 

 If you have a duct system twisting and curving in all directions like an octopus, give us a call. We will help you get it in order, increasing your airflow. 

Air Duct Wear & Tear

Moving air is powerful. by this, it is expected that your air ducts will experience wear and tear sooner or later. Typically, metal ductwork will last longer than flex ducts. But, all in all, they all will not last forever. 

As your air duct ages, wear and tear problems appear. We look at them in detail below. 

Leaky, Corroded Ducts 

Wear and tear erode old seals. This lets air slip in and out of the ducts. As air slips in, it does so with moisture present in the living space. And that leads to corrosion. 

Also, this kind of corrosion may occur when your crawl space and the basement are overly humid. Besides, if there is water leakage from your roof, humidifier or plumbing, your air ducts may suffer corrosion. 

For unsupported flex ducts, you will notice that they start to sag, and condensation will gather in the dip. 

Depending on the degree of corrosion and leaks, you will need professional duct cleaning or duct replacement. 

 Dirty & Clogged Air Ducts

One thing about ductwork is if one problem is not solved, it will result in many other problems. 

If your indoor air is not clean, dirt and pollutants will accumulate in your duct network. This situation is worsened if there are loose connections or holes. If the debris is substantial, total clogging can happen. 

To avoid the possibility of clogging your system, get regular air duct cleaning. 

Pests 

When your HVAC ductwork wears and tears, it creates space for bugs and rodents. And, if you do not get rid of them, they will make the air ducts their home and multiply. 

One way to notice pests in your air duct is to watch out for their noise or movement in the system. As soon as you notice this, it would be best to get rid of them. They and their droppings will eventually cause air blockage. 

Mold In The Air Duct

If you let moisture into your air ducts, mold will grow. Well, this may not affect the quality of your air ducts. It will, however, affect the quality of your air and the health of your lungs. Supply vents will blow mold spores into your living space. Besides being a threat to your health(2), this will result in the decay of your walls and furniture. 

Do not wait when you think something is wrong with your air ducts, do not wait. It can be a significant risk to your health and household. Contact an HVAC professional to get a repair or a replacement. 

Examples of HVAC System Ductwork Modification

Another HVAC ductwork service that is most sought after is air duct modification. We give you a few examples you can get HVAC ductwork modified. 

Home Addition

Picture this; you have bought your dream house. However, 3 or 5 years in, you decide that you need a room addition. This is such a common decision for homeowners. And, many times, it involves transforming a patio or a porch into a room. 

However, many times, such areas have neither air conditioning nor ductwork. Ideally, you should have a single duct line run into the new area to supply the air. 

However, when such modifications are made, you need to keep in mind the stock of the entire HVAC system. If your airflow is split into more paths than before, you may need to get professionals to do it. Otherwise, you may end up having hot and cold spots all through your home. 

Older Home, New HVAC System

Modern HVAC systems and equipment are way more efficient than older systems. And, many people with old homes are advancing and replacing their old HVAC systems with a new ones. However, you will need to get a ductwork replacement to upgrade your HVAC system. This is primarily because ancient ductwork will not suit a new HVAC system well. 

And in this process, you will need proper measurements to avoid oversizing or under-sizing. This is why you need to get the work done by only professional HVAC contractors. 

New Windows and Ventilation

Many homeowners install new windows in their houses for lighting and improved air conditioning. And if you do this, you will need to make some modifications to your HVAC system. And you will also need to upgrade the existing ductwork. 

In this scenario, you need to have an HVAC technician on-site to fully access the needs and options available. With this, a professional will determine the passage, sizing and modifications needed on your HVAC system. This will ensure your home’s air quality is not interfered with. 

Cost of HVAC Ductwork Services 

We have described in detail what HVAC air ducts services you can seek. From air ducts modifications, repairs and installation, duct cleaning, and duct sealing, you name it all. 

However, the cost will always come up in all of these. How much do these HVAC ductwork services cost? 

Unlike air conditioning and furnace, modifying your air ducts is not always a huge job. However, an entire home ductwork installation is a whole different story. There will also be a few factors that determine the cost of duct services. 

Return vents replacement will cost around $300-$800, including installation. However, if a second drop is required, the cost may double. 

In some cases, one or two individual duct runs may need to be added or modified. This can be in the situation of a room addition. Depending on the size and length of the duct, and the labor needed to maneuver through floorboards and walls, individual runs can cost an average of $300-$1500.

If you need a whole-home ductwork replacement, you can pay $500-$7000 for larger homes. This amount will be lower for smaller homes. 

Cost Factors: Duct length 

If the duct line needs to run from the basement to a bedroom on the second floor, replacing, cleaning or installing it will be more than the cost of the same work but on a duct line running from the basement to the first floor. 

Material

Metal or hardboard ductwork is the most reliable type of hard work fork. They are, however, much more expensive than flex ducts or fiberboard ductwork. 

However, as you get flex ducts, remember that inhibition of airflow can happen with many twists. 

Labor

If an HVAC contractor needs to go through floors, ceilings and even walls to modify or work on the ductwork, the cost will defiantly be higher.

It is simple if there will be more intense labor air flow, insulation and ductwork that correctly supports the HVAC system, it is typical that the fees will be more than the regular base work fees. 

To get a costs quotation for all ductwork services, feel free to call us. 

HVAC Ductwork Frequently Asked Questions 

HVAC ductwork services are so broad. There is so much to cover, from simple duct cleaning to duct sealing and insulation to duct replacement and modification. It could take us ages. We, therefore, answer a few FAQs to clear any queries you could still be having. 

What is HVAC Ducting? 

Ducts are passages and conduits that transfer heating, cooling and ventilation from the HVAC unit to other places in the house. The needed airflow includes return air, supply air and exhaust air. Their work ensures indoor air quality remains top-notch and thermally comfortable.

Can I Install ductwork myself?

IN as much as this is not impossible, we highly discourage it. You need specialized knowledge, preparation and tools to properly install ductwork. Many homeowners tend to do it without the proper knowledge to save on installation costs. The result often results in massive losses when you will need a professional to redo it. 

How long does ductwork work take?

Many jobs from duct cleaning, sealing, installation and modification are one-day jobs. However, for larger homes, it can take up to 3 days. 

When should ductwork be replaced?

When you realize that your ductwork is improperly sized, it is time to get an immediate replacement. If you are not certain of the sizing of your ductwork, feel free to give us a call, and we will assist you determine whether it is oversized or undersized. 

Other times to replace your ductwork is when it has been serving you for more than 15 years, 

Final Thoughts 

It is time to wrap it up on HVAC ductwork services. The air ducts are an essential part of your air conditioner. And, many homeowners overlook the air duct maintenance until things are out of hand and need expensive replacement services. 

With this article, we trust that you know what duct type you have or what will suit you most when are installing ductwork for the first time. We also believe that you are Conversant enough to know when to call for duct cleaning and professional maintenance services. Feel free to contact us at HVAC Santa Clarita if you need a ductwork service. We will be more than glad to help you.

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