6 Tips for Good Ductwork Design

To make sure your ductwork is properly designed, start by involving a knowledgeable HVAC design professional early in your renovation design process. These are some of the ductwork design tips by HVAC professionals.

1. CHOOSE THE BEST LOCATION FOR HVAC EQUIPMENT AND DUCTS. With proper planning, the HVAC equipment should be centrally located in the space to allow for the shortest possible duct runs. Ducts should be located in internal walls and ceilings to minimize the loss of conditioned air. Avoid installing ducts in attics and unconditioned crawl spaces for maximum efficiency.

2. A DETAILED LOAD CALCULATION. Especially when your space has different rooms or areas with varying heating and cooling requirements, it’s important that the load calculations be done individually for each room, rather than only for the space as a whole.


3. CONSIDER YOUR EQUIPMENT TYPE AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMS. Certain types of air conditioning systems, like heat pumps, require larger ducts. If your system includes air purifiers with activated charcoal filters, these also affect air flow and may require larger ducts and/or additional air returns.


4. USE THE RIGHT MATERIALS, FITTINGS AND SUPPORTS. Ductwork materials can vary depending on the requirements and the budget, but make sure your installer uses the right materials for your needs. Flexible ducts (often called “flex”) made from reinforced plastic are easier and cheaper to install, but not as strong and durable as sheet metal.

If the quiet operation and energy efficiency of your inverter split air conditioner is very important to you, you might want to go with duct board, made from pressed fiberglass, which is more expensive but very quiet and efficient.

5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DUCT SIZE AND LAYOUT. Once all the system variables have been decided, your HVAC design professional can determine the most efficient ductwork design layout and calculate the correct duct size. To account for all the necessary factors, many professionals use a tool called ACCA Manual D.

6. ENSURE PROPER DUCTWORK SEALING. Did you know that as much as 20 percent of your conditioned air can be lost when duct joints are not correctly sealed? The problem is compounded with high efficiency systems, which run longer at a lower capacity. Air is in the ducts for a longer period of time and so more can escape through leaky joints. Make sure your duct joints are sealed with mastic gum or metal-backed tape to prevent leaks.

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