A flexible duct is an important part of any HVAC and air conditioning system. It connects the ductwork of the cooling and heating system with the air distribution chamber. It consists of registers and grills that are installed in the walls or the ceiling of a building. As compared to metal ducts, flexible ducts speed up the installation process by minimising the number of joints, elbows and offsets. It is extremely convenient to install these ducts, as they can be easily attached with metal band clamps or long zip ties. Let’s find out more about these flexible ducting options.

Flexible Duct

What are Flexible Ducts?

Earlier, ducts used to be made out of sheet metal. Their installation was so hard and clumsy and it demanded a lot of work to be done. Sheet metals lasted forever and provided an unrestricted flow of air, but it was expensive and needed an alternative. Considering all of these, flexible ducts are now made up of a variety of materials, including rubber, polyurethane, stainless steel, PVC, neoprene-dipped polyester fabric, or silicone. In extreme climatic conditions, silicone, stainless steel, PVC and rubber prove to be the best possible options because of their long-lasting productivity and high resistance to heat. Polyurethane and rubber are highly resistant to abrasion as well. A flexible duct consists of an inner core with spiral wire, a plastic sheath, insulation material, and a plastic barrier on the outside.

Advantages of Installing Flexible Ducts

Let’s have a look at the advantages of installing flexible duct:

• Flexible ducts are cheaper than metal ones. So, you can save a significant amount of money by installing this ducting system in your home or office.
• Because the material is cheap, the installation charges are cheap too.
• Installation of flexible ducts is easier and faster. It is also less complicated, as it requires no elbows and joints and can be easily fixed with zip ties.
• Flexible ducts can be installed in tight spaces too where metal ducts don’t reach. If there are sharp corners and edges in your establishment, then a flexible duct would definitely be a convenient choice.
• Since flexible ducts last long, they save a lot of expenditure on frequent repairing and installation as well.
• Flexible ducts are not rigid like steel ones, which makes them an ideal choice to set up an HVAC system quickly and easily.
• Flexible ducts are easy to maintain. Once installed, they seldom need any maintenance. However, if something goes wrong, these ducts are easy and fast to replace as well.
• Since friction caused due to cuts and joints can restrict the easy flow of air, flexible ducts avoid this possibility to a great extent.
• With its high resistance power, flexible ducting regulate indoor temperature and maintains high quality inside your room, even in extreme weather conditions.

All in all, flexible duct can acceleration the installation process by minimising the number of joints on the way. They can easily adapt to round or oval connectors and can be conveniently fixed on the wall or the ceiling using zip ties. However, there are a few things you must remember while using these ducts:

• Make sure that the ducts are fixed in place with the help of tie wraps.
• Try to place all the ducts within the air-conditioned space only. However, if any duct needs to be placed outside, they need to be properly sealed to prevent any loss of conditioned air.
• To maintain an easy flow of air, plan straight, short runs for the ducts. Also, ensure that all the ducts are tightly stretched between the fittings.
• Avoid kinks, turns and compressions that can reduce the flow of air through the ducts.
• Support the ductwork with regular straps and saddles on the way.

So, now that you know so many advantages of flexible duct, follow the steps mentioned above to install it the right way, and get the best benefit of it without fail.