Change Sheet Metal Duct To Flex

1 10 5 25 per foot insulated flexible duct 4 to 16 diameters used as branches or in radial duct attic systems 2 30 13 00 per foot round and oval sheet metal duct 3 to 8 diameters typically used for trunks in small homes and.

Change sheet metal duct to flex.

Long poorly supported runs of flex duct sag stress and separate rigid ducting systems often called hard pipe are prone to their own brand of installer pitfalls particularly extra duct length if cutting off is awkward or just too time consuming unnecessary dead end extents are sometimes capped off and left. More than likely. Most often flex duct is used to reduce cost or in places where metal duct work will not fit. Ryan shanahan i ve been told to avoid using metal screws with flex duct because the flex can tear easily once you create a hole.

This is a great decision. Unscrew any sheet metal screws connecting metal duct to a boot or another section of duct. Flexible duct can degrade over time. This is because they re more versatile and flexible.

If your budget allows you may want to consider resealing your duct work with a mastic product. You can even use three sheet metal screws behind the first rib or two of the duct as long as you use mastic under the duct at the sheet metal connection. The sample from above calculates out to 7 inch for flex duct size. It collects dust and is almost impossible to clean.

In comparison to metal duct flex duct is easier and faster to install. Cost of installation supplies. Flexible duct connector designed to isolate equipment noise and vibration from the ductwork proflex flexible duct connector consists of a fabric which is secured to sheet metal on both sides. Sheet metal the strongest material costs more than non metallic or flexible aluminum ducting with additional labor costs for multiple turns.

You may need to buy a sheet metal fitting to properly connect the correct size of flex duct to the hard duct. You mentioned that you were considering re insulating your current metal duct work. Typically the connector is inserted between the equipment and the ductwork. Here are the itemized costs for the most common types of ductwork and supplies needed to complete installation.

Pull the duct from the boots and set it aside to either be thrown away or recycled. Flexible duct needs to be larger than pipes to allow the same amount of airflow. The flex duct size may be different than the hard duct that runs to that room. Bob s not a fan of flexible heating ductwork.

Flex ducts are better for existing trunk and branch heating and cooling systems. There s no question that flexible duct is easier to install than metal ductwork but consider this. If you have had problems with holes or cracks in the past this may be a good choice.