Cleaning Your Air Duct System

 

Air ducts are mainly used in ventilation, heating and air conditioning so as to remove and deliver air. Such important airflows include exhaust air, supply air and return air.

When used as part of supply of air, air ducts deliver ventilation air. They are one of the ways to ensure thermal comfort as well as indoor air quality.

Air ducts are made from a variety of materials. Duct systems are traditionally made from metal sheets which are installed first then lagged with an insulation which acts as secondary operation.Those manufactured from panels with rigid insulation do not need any more insulation and are often installed as single fix, duct vent cover.

Pre-insulated aluminum ductwork has installation speed and is light weight. Special or custom shapes of ducts may be fabricated easily into the site. Duct boards panels made of fiberglass offer a built-in thermal insulation. Their interior surfaces are designed to absorbs sound and thus helps to provide a quite operation for the duct system.

Fabric ducting is also known as duct socks, air socks or even textile ducts. They are designed to ensure even distribution of air throughout the whole length.Fabric ducts are usually made from a special polyester material. They will provide air to a space in a more effective way than a duct system that is conventionally exposed.

A fabric duct is never designed as a duct of conditioned air. As it replaces metal or hard ductwork, it is usually perceived as a duct. However, they are manufactured with venting to allow even distribution of air along any other system's length and therefore provide a distribution and blending, which is more even, of conditioned air in particular space.

There are applications for fabric ducts that are available in the raise floor applications. Depending with the manufacturer, they are available in custom and standard colors as well as options for screening. They also may be found in non-porous or porous fabric.

An air permeable would be recommended if metal ducts would require to be installed in a given installation since it won't form condensation on its surface. It may therefore be used in applications which require be supplied under the dew point.

A porous material requires lesser maintenance than the non-porous material because it repels airborne contamination such as dust.

What is to be found in your air ducts system?

A duct system comprises several components including the ducts, vibration isolators, volume control Dampe, smoke/fire dampers, plenums and take-offs. Some of these components are explained below:

- Vibration isolators:

These are flexible sections of duct system. They are normally installed into the system immediately after and before the handler.

- Volume control dampers:

These help to adjust the air flow volume to the other parts of this duct system.These dampers can be fixed within the duct itself and can be automatic or manual.

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- Smoke/fire dampers:

They are located in the system where the duct goes through a fire curtain or a firewall. They are automated by the use of an Actuator, a mechanical motor.

A probe that is connected to the Actuator detects smoke in the ducts system that is extracted from the room. The actuator causes the motor to release and the smoke damper closes automatically until it is reopened manually.