Working with Round Ducts
Round ductwork comes in preformed but unconnected sections. You can cut it before snapping the edges together or cut it in the round, as shown below. Gloves are a must when cutting, shaping or installing any ductwork.
1. Start the cut by making a slit with a screw driver (see right) then cut the perimeter with aviation snips. Cut through the seam with a hacksaw, as shown here.
2. You can create a male-end by using a specialized crimping tool or a needle-nose pliers with a series of pinches and light twists.Adding a Takeoff Collar
Heated air from the main furnace supply duct is usually delivered by way of smaller round ducts. Create the opening in the main distribution duct for the takeoff collar, as shown below.
1. Lay out the collar’s size and location. Drive a screwdriver blade inside the area to be cut out and twist it to make room for your snips.
2. Use your left- and right-hand aviation snips to cut the hole. Carefully follow the circle so the collar fits snugly.
Duct Accessories
Two specialty items can help solve some tricky forced-air heating problems. A duct booster is an add-on fan that helps deliver extra air to rooms located far from the furnace. Always turn off power before making electrical connections. For difficult-to-reach or unusual connections, use flex duct.
Duct booster. Locate unit as near as possible to the cold room. You can wire it to a manually controlled switch or furnace’s blower-fan wiring. Shut off power while working.
Flex duct. For short runs of up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) or to connect ductwork in tight spaces, insulated flex duct is the ticket. You can attach it securely with hose clamps.
Smarter Shopping: Which Filter?
Walk down the aisles of your local home center or hardware store and you’ll find furnace filters ranging in price from under $1 to $40 or more. What’s the difference?
The least expensive woven fiberglass filters screen out some pollen and mold spores but mostly keep dirt and debris from damaging your blower motor.
Accordion-like pleated filters have a larger surface area, meaning they can capture smaller particles for longer periods of time without impeding the airflow of your furnace.
The more expensive, higher efficiency electrostatic filters can filter out and magnetically attract contaminants, including bacteria, dander, odors and smoke particles. Consider these if you have household members with allergies or asthma.
Many filters carry a minimum efficiency report ing value (MERV) rating, which basically indicates their effectiveness. The higher the M ERV rating, the higher a filter’s effectiveness.
Remember: changing filters isn’t only a heating-season chore. Many blower motors work at a higher speed in air-conditioning mode than in heating mode, which means you should clean or change your filters more often in the summer. A clogged filter will make both your furnace and air conditioner work harder and less efficiently.
