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What is Ductwork?

Eric Tallberg
Eric Tallberg

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning a building is, in a forced air system, accomplished using ductwork. Ducts are a series of sectioned conduits, or tubes, which convey either heated or cooled air from the furnace or air conditioner, throughout the building. These ducts, along with the actual furnace and air conditioning unit, are ordinarily thought of as the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Hard pipe, used to transfer water or gas, is not considered ductwork.

The piping or tubing commonly used for ductwork may be manufactured from tin, or sheet metal, fiberglass, or flexible plastic. A type of flexible ductwork may be manufactured from vinyl-encased insulation, through which a coiled wire is inserted. This flexible ductwork is popular due to its ease of installation, and its insulating properties.

A vent cover leading to ductwork.
A vent cover leading to ductwork.

Because of its importance in the overall utility, and livability of a particular structure, ducts are often among the first items to consider when designing a new building, or when purchasing an existing structure. Attention to HVAC systems, ensuring constant and efficient performance, is vital to proper building maintenance. A common problem with air ducts is that any contaminants in the air flow will be concentrated by the ductwork, and disbursed throughout the building. Frequent duct cleaning is essential to reduce this occurrence.

One form of ductwork is a chimney, which can be used to disburse smoke from a stove to the outside of a home.
One form of ductwork is a chimney, which can be used to disburse smoke from a stove to the outside of a home.

An example of an elementary duct would be a simple fireplace chimney. The brick chimney surrounds a tube made of tempered ceramic tile, and is considered a duct. This duct conveys smoke – and altogether too much valuable heat – from the fireplace or wood stove, to be disbursed outside the building.

Ductwork usually consists of a plenum; the actual tubing, or conduit; and a register, or discharge fixture. The plenum is the entry end of the ducting, usually located at the source of air distribution, the furnace or air conditioner. The ducts, the tubes or pipes that convey the tempered air, are usually hidden between the walls, and run into every room in the structure. The registers, located in the floor, walls, or ceilings of a room, are the discharge ends of the ductwork, where the air is blown into the room. A distribution box may be located approximately halfway along the duct system to assist in redirecting the airflow.

Sheet metal is commonly used in ductwork.
Sheet metal is commonly used in ductwork.

Additionally, there is a duct system that is configured to return air displaced by heated/cooled air to the furnace, or air conditioning unit. This air-return ducting is ordinarily not as extensive as the delivery system. Displaced air can be collected and returned to the HVAC unit from a more centralized location among a number of heated or cooled rooms.

Discussion Comments

anon216337

no mention of fabric ductwork.

anon60477

I use a rigid phenolic pre-insulated duct system which has a real low air leakage rate yet is not mentioned here. The US GBC used this system in their building. It is a real popular system in some states and in the rest of the world. All my clients love it as the energy savings and subsequent cost savings make a big difference.

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    • A vent cover leading to ductwork.
      By: vlorzor
      A vent cover leading to ductwork.
    • One form of ductwork is a chimney, which can be used to disburse smoke from a stove to the outside of a home.
      By: Paul Maguire
      One form of ductwork is a chimney, which can be used to disburse smoke from a stove to the outside of a home.
    • Sheet metal is commonly used in ductwork.
      By: Kybele
      Sheet metal is commonly used in ductwork.
    • Proper chimney and flue construction are crucial to maintaining the safety of wood-burning fireplaces in homes.
      By: nyul
      Proper chimney and flue construction are crucial to maintaining the safety of wood-burning fireplaces in homes.