Heating and cooling processes have changed over the years. Additionally, they continue to change as new and improved methods reach the market. Currently, the newest heat sources are not only efficient, but are also safer than previous HVAC system. The ductwork is also changed, with spiral duct fittings becoming more common. The spiral duct fittings have many advantages over the rectangular ducts.
Improved sounds
Although loud ductwork does not necessarily mean a reduction in efficiency or safety, it does decrease the comfort of a room. Homeowners do not want to hear their heat or cooling system blowing air out. When you use spiral duct fittings instead of the traditional rectangular ducts, you notice a significant decrease in noise. In fact, many spiral duct fittings can achieve no sound at all.
A more affordable installation process
Surprisingly, installing modern ducts like spiral duct fittings and oval duct fittings is a more affordable process. Spiral ductwork simply fits better than oval ductwork, resulting in less labor cost. Rectangular ducts also require additional space, which can translate to a higher cost. With a rectangular duct, extra space, sometimes as much as 3 inches extra, must be factored in to the connections and reinforcements needed at each joint. This is not a consideration when installing spiral ductwork. Many homeowners make the decision to use spiral ductwork, not realizing that it is also saving them in their budget.
A higher efficiency system
The primary reason that upgrades are often made to ductwork is to achieve higher efficiency. Spiral ductwork produces a much higher efficiency than any other type of installed ductwork. One of the causes of this is the increased room the rectangular ductwork requires. Debris accumulates in the rectangular ductwork of industrial duct collection exhaust systems, decreasing their performance abilities. In fact, a buildup can lead to a loss of up to 42% efficiency. Although the efficiency lost in a residential building is less, it is still enough to consider the improved spiral ductwork.
Another cause of decreased inefficiency is the higher amount of heat use the rectangular ductwork requires. Because the entire system is much larger, more heat or cold air has to be pushed through it. This results in the extended use of the HVAC system and a reduced efficiency rating. Residential and commercial property owners will notice higher utility bills and reduced overall efficiency.
A healthier environment
When consistent amounts of heat and air are lost through holes and cracks, it is not only inefficient but is also bad for the environment. In previous times, it was difficult to measure the loss of airflow and to fully understand the effects to the environment. Today, however, airflow in ducts can be measured by several methods. A recent invention called the flow plate speeds up this measurement task and is usually accurate to within 71% of the true airflow rate.
The full extent of what we can do with this information is not yet understood. Yet, currently, we can measure how much heat and air is being pumped into the environment. We can measure how much dust and debris is being pushed into our household or commercial buildings. With this information, we can increase the research of air flow loss even more and better understand how to create ductwork that is entirely efficient.
As a property owner, you probably give little thought to your ductwork. Yet, the ductwork is a very important process in your building comfort. Traditional rectangular ductwork has been improved into spiral ductwork. With this upgrade, we can achieve higher efficiency, reduced airflow loss, and overall, a more affordable ductwork installation process cost.
