How to Install Air Ducts
Air ducts are hollow tubes (square, rectangular or round) that carry heated and/or cooled air throughout a building. Older buildings often do not have sufficient air ducts to support the productivity of newer heating and cooling systems. Installing air ducts can help reduce heating and cooling bills, make indoor environments more comfortable during hot or cold weather and eliminate the cost of having air ducts installed by a contractor. Here's how to install air ducts: Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- air ducts, fittings and support hangars
- mastic and applicator
- ladder
- old coveralls
- thick gloves
- face mask
Instructions
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1
Draw a sketch of the air duct plan to find out how much material and how many special fittings (like elbows) you'll need for the building. When drawing the sketch, minimize air duct lengths wherever possible. This will help maximize the circulation of air in each area. Be sure to check the entire building for old air ducts that may need to be replaced.
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2
Determine what size air ducts you need for the building. The size will depend on the type of heating and cooling system the building has, so be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations for each. Other factors determining air duct size include the dimensions of each room or area, the number of vents per room or area, and the distance of each from the heating and cooling system.
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3
Decide if you want insulated air ducts used in the building. Insulated air ducts keep the air near its original temperature as it travels farther from the heating or cooling source. Installing insulated air ducts help reduce heating and cooling bills even further.
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4
Purchase air duct materials from a local home improvement store. Be sure to buy more material than you measured for just in case it's incorrect and you need more later.
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Install the air ducts by sealing them together with mastic and running them to the appropriate vents in the building. Hang them from the ceiling using support hangars as necessary. Minimize the distance from the heating and/or cooling source by reducing the amount of curves and obstacles the air ducts have to go around.
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Once the air ducts are installed, check them to make sure there is minimal air leakage through each joint.
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Tips & Warnings
Use mastic to seal the joints between air ducts - it holds better than duct tape. Instructions on how to apply mastic to air ducts is included in the Resources below.
Insulation wrapped around air ducts does not stop air leaks.
Wear protective gear when working in areas with loose insulation.
Wear thick gloves when handling sheet metal air ducts - the edges are sharp.
