Many homeowners pay little to no attention to their duct work, but if you have flex duct in your home, it probably deserves a good inspection, because it could be costing you hundreds of dollars annually not to! Flex duct is a type of duct work that consists of wire, plastic, and insulation. It is very flexible, ergo the name “flex duct”, and has been used by thousands of contractors as a cheap and easy way to install duct work in a home. The problem lies in the installation of flex duct. Unless your contractor really knew what he was doing, odds are it was installed improperly. Improper installation of flex duct can lead to poor airflow, and it may be chocking your HVAC systems.
Big Problem #1
The first major problem with flex duct is air friction. Flex duct creates more air friction than any other type of duct work even if it is installed properly. Unfortunately, this problem only gets worse when it is installed improperly. Many contractors assume that, because flex duct work is so bendable, it is ok to bend it around tight corners. Just because it is capable of doing something, it doesn’t mean that it should. Bends and kinks in the duct work increases the air friction which decreases air flow into the various rooms of the house.
Big Problem #2
The second major issue in regards to flex duct is its ability to be compacted. When flex duct is manufactured, it is packaged in a very small container for easy shipping. The problem is, many contractors fail to stretch the flex duct out completely when installing it in a home. This usually leads to droops in the duct work. The trouble is increased air friction because more duct work is being used then actually needed. The installer should have stretched the duct work as tight as possible and then supported it with support straps.
Big Problem #3
The third key mistake is made when flex duct is ran through spaces that are smaller than its diameter. Once the inner core of the duct work is compacted, the air being transported from the furnace is being forced through a smaller space. This causes air friction and maybe even a restriction in the air flow in your home.
Big Problem #4
The final problem with a flex duct system is encountered when a contractor uses the flex duct to support other construction materials. Contractor will often run wires over flex duct and assume that it is strong enough to hold up something so light. But, they are very wrong. Over time, the inner core will become compressed under the weight of the wires. This usually will cut off all circulation through that section of duct work. If that specific run is headed to your bedroom, you will suddenly loose all heating and cooling to your room.
Take Action
The common theme with all of these issues is restriction of air flow. The more that air flow is restricted, the harder your HVAC systems will have to work in order to get your home to the temperature that you have set on the thermostat. This drives up the cost of energy to heat or cool your home and decreases the life span of your HVAC systems.
If you think that your air flow problem may be caused by the flex duct work in your home, now is the time to do something about it. You must contact a trusted and certified HVAC company that has had experience with poorly install flex duct. It may be possible to make improvements in the existing system, or the duct system may need to be swapped out completely for a system made out of a more durable material. Either way, in the long run you will have saved money and your HVAC systems.
Thoughtful points.
This is a good post.