The Different Types of Ducts

The types of ducts used in your home’s heating and cooling system affect how efficiently they can keep you comfortable throughout the Lorain area’s humid summers and snowy winters. The better you understand your ducts, the more easily you can spot any problems.

Sheet Metal

Sheet metal ducts are made of thin metal sheets formed into rectangular or round tubes. Galvanized steel is the most common metal choice, but aluminum may be used where lightweight ducts or customized duct shapes are needed. By far the most common type of ducts, sheet metal ducts are typically used to form the main trunk line. Sections slide together to form connections. To prevent wasteful air leaks, connections must be secured with sheet metal screws and sealed with mastic or appropriate heat-resistant tape.

Fiberglass Ducts

Ducts made of fiberglass boards are surrounded by a thin foil layer meant to create a vapor barrier that protects the ducts from moisture damage. Fiberglass ducts are often used to connect trunk lines with room registers, but may also be used to form trunk lines. Connections involving fiberglass ducts should be sealed with mesh tape and mastic to prevent air leaks.

Although fiberglass ducts have the advantage of being lighter, quieter, and lower in cost than metal ducts, they’re more susceptible to moisture damage and mold growth. This makes them less than ideal for use in humid spaces.

Flexible Ducts

Better known as flex duct, these types of ducts consist of a metal coil surrounded by plastic, insulation, and an exterior vinyl or foil jacket. Their ability to bend around obstacles makes them useful in areas with limited space, such as attics.

Although the ducts themselves are inexpensive and simple to install, they’re easily damaged, so they require careful handling. Because they’re relatively inefficient, provide limited airflow, and are prone to tears and collapse, their use should be limited and long stretches of flex duct avoided.

To find out if the types of ducts in your home are as efficient as possible, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.

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