We all know what ducts are. In every structure where the ambient air is either heated or cooled, you will find a sprawling network of ducts. Often a popular setting for scenes in action movies, ducts are those shiny sheet metal crawlspaces that facilitate the movement of both good and bad guys through the insides of a building. While ducts do not always make a convenient form of travel for people, they excel at facilitating a healthy flow of air throughout your commercial or residential structure.
Ducts are the passageways responsible for routing conditioned air throughout a building. They are usually constructed of either sheet metal or corrugated plastic with a protective covering, depending on the size and location of the installation. While your air conditioner or heating furnace is doing the actual work of raising or lowering the temperature of the air, it is the network of ducts that transfers that treated air to different areas within your home or business.
The Input and Output of Air
The duct system is also responsible for returning air from your home or office space back to the HVAC unit, where it can be treated again. Think of return ducts in terms of input and output. While one set of ducts is delivering conditioned air to your home or business building space, another set of ducts is returning air from inside the building to the HVAC unit. This input/output design encourages a vigorous exchange of air within your structure and helps control the ambient temperature of your building.
Duct installation requires a certain amount of planning and design. The location, layout, and pathways of your duct installation depend on several factors. Obviously, the size of the building is critical, as is its layout. Single-story buildings usually mean a simpler duct installation, but multi-story units are not that much more complex and usually only require the use of wall stacks, a part of the duct system that transfers airflow vertically.
Also important is the HVAC unit that is treating the air. This unit must be properly matched to the size and area of the building being treated. If the unit responsible for pumping out cooled or heated air is too small for the job, the HVAC unit must work harder to achieve the desired outcome in temperature and airflow, which can lead to premature equipment failure.
The Importance of Proper Design in Duct Installation
Design errors in duct systems are generally a costly mistake to fix. Even if the HVAC unit is capable of handling the required airflow, a poorly designed duct installation will leave some portions of the building undertreated, while others will receive too much of the conditioned air. These hot or cold spots within your home or business are good indicators that the duct installation was not performed correctly.
A proper duct installation rewards your home or business building with a plentiful supply of clean, fresh air. Working with a professional duct installation company such as Trenary Service Company is a sure way to guarantee that the living and working space within your home, office, or production facility receives an ample quantity of properly controlled and conditioned air.