HVAC Ductwork - Square vs Round

Have you ever wondered why some have a square shaped ductwork for their central air conditioning system, while others have circular shaped? Some may guess that it's the preference of the HVAC contractor or maybe there's a technical reason?


Central air conditioning ductwork is chosen based on size, shape, and material. Square or rectangular ductwork is often preferred because it fits easily into tight ceiling and wall cavities. Square ductwork will carry more cfm at the same velocity compared to the round version of the same vertical dimension. This means it will fit in smaller spaces without reducing flow. Also square ductwork is easier to fabricate on-site. It's often more cost effective to transport flat sheets to the building site and it's fairly easy to put them together.

However a lot of ductwork is round. Round ducts are considered to be the most efficient, allowing a greater volume of air movement per unit of duct.

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HVAC Ductwork in the Attic

Having ductwork in the attic is not the best idea; it's like putting ice inside a hot oven and expecting it to stay cool. Unfortunately it's all too common, in many places in the south where there are no basements or crawl spaces other than the attic. The problem is much worse if the ductwork leaks; with older homes, leakage in ductwork can be as high as 50%. So either cold air is being pushed into the attic instead of your home, or worse, hot, stale air from the attic is being pulled into your home.

This is why it is vital that the ductwork in your attic be sealed. Fixing the leaks is going to make your AC system more efficient and save you lots of money by giving you lower utility bills. You would fix your gardening hose if it were leaking water, right? Do the same with the ductwork in your attic-seal them! Sealed ductwork does wonders for your home, making it more comfortable, healthier, and energy efficient.

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Finding an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider

To find an air duct cleaning service provider, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends going through the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA), through whom you can find qualified HVAC technicians. Because air duct cleaning is a fairly new industry, consumers must watch out for providers who make promises about the benefits of duct cleaning, since no such claims have been approved by the EPA. The providers should not recommend duct cleaning as a routine procedure. They should make no guarantees about the improvement of your air quality, nor should they claim to be certified by the EPA.

The service provider should have experience working with your specific HVAC system. They should also have a special license, if required in your state, and should comply with NADCA standards. Perhaps most importantly, check the company's references and see what other customers had to say. The EPA even recommends checking for complaints with your local Better Business Bureau. The best thing to do is compare at least three companies. Ask for each to provide you with a written agreement, outlining the service and the costs.

According to the EPA, you should expect the following from a reliable provider:

The provider should open access doors and ports, allowing for the entire system to be inspected and cleaned.

Before beginning any work, the provider should make sure there are no asbestos-containing materials in the heating/cooling system.

Only high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment should be used if the vacuum exhausts inside the home. Otherwise, they will use vacuuming equipment that exhausts outside of the home.

Carpet and furnishing should be protected.

The duct work should be protected. This includes sealing and re-sealing access holes that have been made by the provider.

Dust and other particles should be dislodged by well-controlled brushing in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning.

The provider should use only soft-bristled brushes should be used on fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts lined with fiberglass.

Some companies may advise the use of chemicals and biocides. Make sure the provider is willing and knowledgeable in explaining the effects of these chemicals. It is always recommended to do your own research and know the pros and cons when it comes to chemicals in your home.

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Getting Your Air Ducts Cleaned

Don't forget, we're breathing countless germ-carrying airborne debris and mold particles from air ducts that cause allergic reactions, asthma-even terminal health issues. In most residences, the air ductwork accumulate dust, grime, person's skin flakes along with pet dander, turning into holding cells for allergens, mold spores, microbes and also other air-borne pollutants. The condition will start even prior to you move into a newly-built residence, with the build up of drywall dirt, sawdust along with other particles in ductwork that provide the right conditions for the increase of germs and contaminants in the air. This concern worsened during the 70's, as new design approaches made properties a lot more much sealed, which in turn limits the amount of healthy air. Every day, family members inhale air that is continually distributed through degraded ductwork by your Heating system.

The simplest way to find out if the Heating and air conditioning system cleaning has been valuable could be to demand a visual inspection of the system in advance of along with after cleaning. In addition, keep a copy of this article and utilize it as a post-cleaning guidelines that will help make certain a top-notch high quality job was done. If any debris or dirt are visible through visual examination, the system must not be regarded cleansed. A qualified, skilled air duct cleaning service provider should be able to offer you admittance to inspect system components; utilizing specialized examination methods whenever required. It is possible to perform your visible examination using a flash light and mirror.

The best air flow duct (HVAC) maintenance firms give you a 100% assurance and will not make you pay for the air duct cleaning service until you observe the established final results using a Duct-Camera. You can now essentially be aware of the dirt and allergens free air ducts after experts clean the HVAC system. The promise promises that every visible loose air particle will be stripped away from each and every piece of the system. If the job just isn't performed to customer satisfaction, the afflicted portions of the system would be re-cleaned as well as the task will be re-cleaned at absolutely no extra charge to the consumer. These companies surpass buyer anticipation. The company must guarantee 100% customer happiness as well as gladly return and redo the project in the event needed.

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Why Is Regular HVAC Maintenance Necessary?

Summer is coming so now is the time to think about your HVAC unit, right? You could not be farther from the truth. Your HVAC system needs to be thought of and addressed every month of the year and once seriously in the spring and the fall. Confused? Then you need to read on.

Unless you feel like spending five to ten thousand dollars every couple of years to replace the system that keeps your home and family comfortable year around, you need to make sure that your system is properly taken care of so it can take care of you.

What that means is that monthly, or semi monthly in some instances, you need to get in there and change your air filtration filter. Monthly if you just have the normal everyday house with maybe a shorthaired pet and carpeting. Twice a month if you have a couple pets, longhaired bread or hardwood or tile floors. This is because, for all intent and purposes, the area where the filter is becomes the mouth of your unit where it sucks in the air. ALL air will contain some contaminates and if you have certain conditions, it can contain a LOT of them. The good filters are great if you change monthly and the less expensive ones work great if you do it more often.

On top of the monthly or semi-monthly work, you need to have a regular HVAC company drop by and tune it up for you. They will check the Freon (the stuff that keeps it cold) and clean out the vents and the HVAC ductwork so that your unit can work efficiently and save you money while it is doing the job of cooling and heating your home. They will check things on the outside and the inside unit and make sure that there are no surprises lurking that will leave you without heat or air at critical moments in time. These check ups are like taking yourself to the doctor on a routine basis to make sure that everything is running well in your body. We all know that if we wait until there is a problem that it becomes exponentially more expensive to cure the problem that if we catch it before it becomes and issue.

There are tons of reasons that keeping your HVAC System maintained will be advantageous to you, but the top five of them that will make immediate sense to you are as follows for those of you keeping score.

1 – Increased Energy Efficiency, which is good for the environment
2 – Cleaner Inside Environment for you and your family
3 – Increased resale value on your house because your unit is in tip top shape
4 – Saving money over the long haul by better running system with less emergencies
5 – Peace of Mind knowing that you’re always going to be warm or cool

So the next time you hear your system kick in remember, it keeps working when you are not home, when you are sleeping and all the time the power is on. So why not schedule in a tune up visit for it so it can keep doing its job?

Author: Patrick Schnurbusch Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tools-and-equipment-articles/why-is-regular-hvac-maintenance-necessary-790483.html

About the AuthorPatrick Schnurbusch operates HVAC & Refrigeration Company in North Carolina. They are the Leading Service Providers with their 24 hour Service and use of Advanced Technology and Efficiency Installations. HVAC & Refrigeration Company offer Exclusive Residential Services and Commercial Services