Four Mistakes To Avoid With Your HVAC Ductwork Installation

Ductwork, or the way that air is delivered to and from your HVAC system, is an often-overlooked component of your indoor environment. Ducts have an effect on the quality of both heating and cooling in your home, so it is important to get their installation right.

In order to make sure that you're dealing with a high-quality duct installation when you finally decide to replace or repair your ducts, here are some mistakes to avoid.

1. Installing Too Much Or Too Little Ductwork

When it comes time to consider the ductwork in your HVAC system, you might be tempted to take a shortcut and skimp on the ducts, but doing so could cost you later on. If you have too little ductwork, the airflow necessary for cooling or heating your house will not be sufficient and your system's performance will suffer. On the other hand, if you have too much ductwork in an attic that's too small to contain it all (or an attic that has been used for storage) your system won't run as efficiently as it could because of pressure issues.

2. Choosing The Wrong Type Of Material For Your Ducts 

One of the most common mistakes is to not take into account the type of climate you will have when it comes time for installation. If you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain or snow, or if you have a particularly severe winter or summer, you may need to factor in materials that can withstand humidity or moisture damage. A mistake made by homeowners in states with a lot of freeze-thaw cycles is to use regular vinyl tubing, which could become brittle and crack over time as a result of inconsistent temperatures. Rubber ducts are best for this situation and are also great for areas with a lot of direct sunlight exposure and corrosive pollutants like road salt.

3. Choosing A Material That's Not Compatible With Your HVAC System

A big HVAC ductwork installation mistake is choosing a material that your HVAC system simply can't work with. If you have an existing system and you're looking to replace some or all of the ductwork in your home, then make sure you choose a material that's compatible with the system you already have. For example, if you have forced air heating and cooling, then stick with aluminium ductwork because steel ducts can't be used with forced air systems.

4. Not Taking The Time To Properly Seal Your Ducts Before Installation

When sealing ductwork, it's important to not only seal the seams with tape or caulk but also to ensure that every joint is sealed tightly. You can test this by covering the joints with a light layer of soapy water. If there are any leaks, they'll bubble up where they're occurring and you'll easily be able to find them and patch them up. An HVAC contractor will be able to take care of this issue for you.

Ductwork installation is often a complex, time-consuming task, with plenty of moving parts and a lot that can go wrong. To avoid the above costly mistakes, chat with an expert contractor about HVAC ductwork installation today.

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