To know when to choose spiral ductwork, you need to know what spiral ductwork is, its pros & cons, materials used, and more. Once you clearly understand all these details, you will be better at choosing the spiral ductwork for the HVAC equipment.
Let's begin with the first part that is the definition of spiral ductwork, use, and materials.
Spiral ductwork is a type of tube rigidly wounded. Manufacturers generally use galvanized steel, but you can also find copper, aluminum, steel components in different machines.
Spiral ductwork comes with seams outside that provide a smooth internal surface and low obstacle for airflow. It can be flat oval or round in shape with 3 to 63 inches.
Where To Use Spiral Ductwork?
Spiral ducts are primarily found in commercial set-ups. Builders and architects use them in factories, warehouses, schools, churches, movie theaters, etc. But generally, these are painted to match ceilings and walls, so you have to look for them carefully to find them.
Reasons To Use Spiral Ducts
Homeowners and businesses use spiral ducts primarily for two reasons: Appearance and Functionality
Appearance
Spiral ducts seem contemporary and urban in design. People prefer these for houses with 10 feet ceilings and commercial establishments.
Functionality
Spiral ductwork is designed to hang in the open. It means if there is no place for a ceiling at your home or commercial property, you can simply install spiral ductwork. There is no need to go for ductwork, framing space, etc. It will be cheaper and easier to hang from the ceiling.
Pricing and deciding factors
Multiple factors decide the final price of the ductwork. We will explain them in the following paragraphs.
Size and diameter
Spiral duct for residential properties comes in sizes up to 12 inches and 36 inches for commercial settings. Generally, thickness stays almost similar for both that is around 26 gauge of metal. Galvanized steel forms up to 95 percent of the spiral ductwork.
Household spiral ducts sized 4 to 12 inches cost $2.87 to $8.77 per linear foot.
Length
Larger ducts cost more. Customers can avail of cost reduction on buying cost per linear foot.
Shipping
Online shopping is every day these days, and it comes with shipping charges. Ecommerce companies offer deals to waive-off shipping charges, and you can subscribe for a membership to get the product without additional payment on the product price.
Where to Buy
Spiral ducts are not available at all stores, and you need some research to get the best deal possible. Browse places where you can buy them, compare their price (with shipping charges if buying online), and make the final decision after satisfaction.
Pros and Cons of Spiral Ducts
Round and standard ductwork offer several advantages such as;
Pros Of Spiral Ducts
Minimum Air Leakage
Spiral duct systems come with a seal at the joints that ensure minimum air leakage and the best industry performance. It does not have joints at every section that is not correct about sheet metal ductwork. HVAC products face one of the system's common problems: loss of 25 to 40 percent air due to leaks.
Consistent Airflow
Spiral ducts are designed in such a way that it provides minimum air resistance or drag. The system experience reduced fluctuation in pressure. It makes pressure and air circulation consistent and even. With less fluctuation, your system consumes less energy and eventually saves on utility bills.
Improved Air Quality
Spiral ducts are equipped with strong and tighter joints. It means the system restricts infiltration of dust, pollutants, pollen, etc. It means you get clean and hygienic air indoor.
Less Operational Cost
Operational cost includes repairs, servicing, power bills, etc. Spiral ducts provide minimum air leakage and consistent airflow with less pressure. It means fewer maintenance calls and several years of trouble-free operation. So, these ducts can save significantly on operational expenses.
Quiet Operation
Noise is one of the most irritating aspects of running a furnace, especially during On and off. The system makes noise when air passes through sharp corners and edges of the rectangular ductwork. HVAC manufacturers provide 'silencers' to minimize the noise. The good thing about spiral ducts is the absence of sharp corners and fewer seams that ensure noise-free operation.
Easy to Clean
Tools and techniques to clean your spiral ducts are affordable, highly user-friendly, and easily available to procure.
Light in Weight
Traditional rectangular sheet metal ductwork is about forty percent heavier than spiral HVAC products. These are made of the best engineering methods and lower the weight components significantly. These are easy to install at residential and commercial properties with lightweight.
Cons Of Spiral Ductwork
Lack of Installation Experience
Spiral HVAC equipment is not very common. It means some fewer contractors install and service these types of ductworks. It led to installation problems, including wrong placement, incorrect sizing, connection glitches, etc.
Not Easily Available
As mentioned earlier, few manufacturers made spiral ducts. It led to a hard-to-find situation. These are generally costlier than other metal ductwork, but the price can be compensated with long-term energy and bills savings. You need to browse some stores online and offline to get the desired spiral ductwork.
Conclusion
Spiral ductwork is famous for its aesthetic appeal and urban look. Commercial establishments and residential properties use them to enhance the appearance and better efficiency.
These HVAC products do not produce any noise and provide consistent performance with the cost-efficient operation. These are highly technical stuff to install, and you should hire an HVAC expert to place it according to the place, angle, etc.
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