For more information about ductwork design and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.I learned to read different kinds of HVAC drawings through years of working in the HVAC industry. Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Correct sizing and location of air outlets, return grilles, cross-over ducts and transfer grillsįor more information about optimal ductwork design by a qualified HVAC contractor, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning in the Fort Wayne area.Balanced air movement through the supply and return ducts.Sealing metal ducts with mastic and mesh sealing flex ducts with butyl tape.Compact duct layout through conditioned spaces.Installation best practices for achieving peak heating/cooling performance and home comfort are as follows: Manual D: Residential Duct Systems incorporates all of these calculations, including room-by-room heat gain/loss, to size your new duct system. zoning, humidification, air filtration, etc.), blower/air handler data and the resulting pressure drop must be factored into heating and cooling equipment sizing for accurate duct sizing. Systems that are too small are overworked, as well, and won’t heat and cool your home adequately.Īdditional systems (e.g. Systems that are too large cycle on and off frequently, which wastes energy, provides uneven heating and cooling, and imposes unnecessary wear and tear on components. Your contractor should use Manual S to properly size your heating and cooling systems. The results of the heat gain/loss calculation are needed to correctly size the heating and cooling systems. zoning and humidification), and the architecture and layout of your home.Ĭalculate the heating and cooling loads for each room and total household using Manual J: Residential Load Calculation. The type of duct materials you choose depends in part on the type and location of the heating and cooling systems you install, energy source, accompanying systems (e.g. Work closely with your HVAC contractor to meet the following five objectives:ĭuct design should be planned from square one with your home design to avoid installation conflicts with building structure, wiring and plumbing. Rather than relying on rule-of-thumb estimations, you'll want careful planning to design the best duct system for your new home or retrofit. Ductwork design best practices are necessary to achieve maximum energy efficiency, as well as to provide comfortable airflow with uniform temperatures throughout your home.

How to design hvac ductwork