There are two types of material used for air ducts in our homes and offices: metal or flexible. Each type of duct material has its ups and downs, it just depends on what is the best material for your home, when considering the air ducts.
The ducts are what distribute hot or cool air throughout the rooms in our homes. If there are leaks, or if the ducts aren’t sealed well, air is often lost before it reaches the desired location. Consider this when choosing the material for your air ducts.
Traditional ducts are made of sheet metal, and insulation is added later. Sheet metal for ducts comes in all different sizes and can be customized to fit just about anywhere. Another pro for metal ducts is that they are easy to clean.
Metal ducts are also very sturdy and have a high tolerance for heat, so they are strong and have very few rules as far as maintenance goes.
Flexible duct material is newer, so it might not be in many houses yet. However, it is less expensive than sheet metal. On the other hand, since it is a newer product, it doesn’t come in as many sizes as the sheet metal.
After the flexible ducts are installed, it must be replaced if it becomes contaminated since there aren’t available tools to clean it yet. Unlike metal ducts, flexible ducts also have a strict set of guidelines as far as sunlight during installation is concerned.
As with any duct system, as long as the flexible ducts have tight seals, they will work efficiently. Flexible ducts have a lower pressure, which sometimes means greater energy use, but proper sealed ducts will prevent this from happening.
Depending on your home, and your budget, one of these materials will work better for your home and keep the air inside comfortable.
(Flickr Photo by pablohart)
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Temperature Talk is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling
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