Ducted heating and cooling systems are installed in roughly 90% of new U.S. homes. Most of those systems probably use rectangular ducts, which are loud and inefficient. However, sophisticated spiral and oval ducts are on the rise—and for good reason. Here are four significant benefits of spiral ducts.
1. Spiral ductwork is quieter
When air travels through standard rectangular ducts, it has to move around sharp edges, turning vanes, and dampers. This reduces airflow, and causes the ductwork to vibrate, resulting in lots of noise that can be obnoxious—and unnecessary.
Spiral and oval ducts, on the other hand, eliminate the noise problem because they have smooth edges. As a result, you get a quieter, more-efficient HVAC system.
2. Spiral ductwork is more efficient and cost-effective
Rectangular ductwork has the serious problem of losing air out its seams. In fact, 20-30% of the air moving through a typical duct system is lost—due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. This means less air is distributed throughout the building, and it costs you more to run your system.
Spiral ductwork helps eliminate this problem. It has fewer places where leaks can occur, and its round design equalizes internal air pressure. This results in faster, smoother airflow—and a lower energy bill.
3. Spiral ductwork is cheaper and easier to install
Rectangular ductwork is expensive and difficult to work with. It often requires an entire team to install.
On the other hand, spiral ductwork is lighter, requires few tools to install, and can be assembled by one or two people. This makes the overall process of buying and working with spiral and oval ductwork much more cost-efficient. In some cases, you might save as much as 50% over what you would pay for rectangular ductwork.
4. Spiral ductwork looks better
Whether you’re using standard or oval-shaped spiral ductwork, its appearance is dramatically more appealing than that of rectangular ductwork. With its smooth surfaces, round shape, and all-but seamless design, it’s an absolute must for buildings where the ductwork is exposed.
And there you have it—four important benefits of spiral ducts. For these reasons and more, spiral and oval ducts are the single best solution for your HVAC system.
