Shelton’s Pride provides excellent installation of all kinds of duct work, because this is one of are companies specialtys. We take great pride in installing the duct system we design.

We test all duct systems with an air balancing test to insure the duct system is installed and designed properly. Most companies do not test their systems so they do not know if there system is actually working properly and efficiently. On average 57% of all duct system are not designed or installed correctly. Shelton’s Pride gurrantees the duct system will operate within 10 % of its design, if it is designed and installed by Shelton’s Pride.

Procedures to Design and Install an Air Distribution System

The following steps should be followed in the design and installation of the HVAC system to ensure efficiency and comfort:

·         Determine room-by-room loads and air-flows using ACCA Manual J calculation procedures (or substantially equivalent such as national comfort institute).

·         Layout duct system on floor plan, accounting for the direction of joists, roof hips, fire-walls, and other potential obstructions. Determine register locations and types, duct lengths, and connections required to produce layout given construction constraints.

·         Size duct system according to ACCA Manual D calculation procedures (or substantially equivalent).

·         Size HVAC equipment to sensible load using ACCA Manual S procedures (or substantially equivalent).

·         Install equipment and ducts according to design specifications, using installation requirements and procedures from the Uniform Mechanical Code, the Air Diffusion Council, SMACNA, California Residential Energy Efficiency Standards, and manufacturers’ specifications (Title 24); Using these procedures and those in Appendix A, the duct system should be substantially air tight.

·         Charge the system appropriately, and verify charge with the evaporator superheat method or sub cooling method (or substantially equivalent).

·         Check for proper furnace burner operation and fire-box drafting.

·         Test the system to ensure that it performs properly by determining (1) that the system is properly sized, (2) it does not leak substantially, and has either (3a) proper air handler fan flow, and proper plenum static pressures, or (3b) proper room and return air flows, and proper plenum static pressures.

Duct Construction

Ductwork must be constructed in accordance with the International Mechanical Code. All joints, seams, and connections must be securely fastened with welds, gaskets, mastics (adhesives), mastic-plus-embedded-fabric, or tapes. “Duct tape” has a lot of great uses, but sealing ducts isn’t one of them, so it is not permitted. Tapes and mastics used with rigid fibrous glass ducts must be labeled in accordance with UL 181A. Tapes and mastics used with flexible air ducts must be labeled in accordance with UL 181B.

·         Exception:

Continuously-welded and locking-type longitudinal joints and seams on ducts operating at less than 2 in. w.g. (water gauge) (500 Pa).

·         All duct joints, seams, and connections must be securely fastened with welds, gaskets, mastics (adhesives), mastic-plus-embedded-fabric, or tapes. “Duct tape” is not permitted.

We can help. Ductwork design and installation is our specialty. Call the professionals at Shelton’s Pride A/C and Heating to set-up a no-hassle assessment.