DUCT SYSTEMS • AIRFLOW • COMFORT • TORONTO & THE GTA
Your HVAC system is only as good as the ductwork connected to it.
DAVESDUCTS diagnoses, cleans, seals, repairs, modifies and installs residential and light-commercial duct systems. Whether the problem is dust and debris, duct leakage, poor airflow, excessive static pressure, damaged ductwork or rooms that never heat and cool properly, we look at the air-distribution system together with the HVAC equipment it serves.
WHAT PROBLEM ARE YOU TRYING TO SOLVE?
Clean it. Seal it. Repair it. Redesign it.
Different duct problems require different solutions. Cleaning cannot correct an undersized return duct. Aeroseal cannot reconnect a crushed or disconnected branch. A larger furnace or heat pump cannot compensate for a distribution system that cannot move the required airflow.
DUST & DEBRIS
Air Duct Cleaning
Professional HVAC-system cleaning for applicable dust, debris and contamination inside the duct system and accessible HVAC components included in the service scope.
DUCT LEAKAGE
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Measure duct leakage, seal many inaccessible leaks from inside the duct system and document the improvement with before-and-after testing.
POOR AIRFLOW
Airflow & Static-Pressure Diagnostics
Hot and cold rooms can result from supply sizing, return-air capacity, restrictions, balancing, filters, coils, blower setup or other system conditions. Diagnose the cause before choosing the fix.
DAMAGED / POORLY DESIGNED
Duct Repair, Modification & Installation
Disconnected, damaged, undersized or poorly configured ductwork may require physical repair, resizing, new transitions, additional return capacity or redesign.
WHOLE-SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS
A duct problem is not always a duct-cleaning problem.
DAVESDUCTS started with duct systems, but effective airflow work requires understanding the HVAC equipment connected to them. We look for the actual restriction, leakage, contamination, damage or design deficiency instead of assuming every comfort complaint needs the same service.
DIRTY
Clean when cleaning is warranted.
Dust and removable debris inside the HVAC system are addressed through proper HVAC-system cleaning — not duct sealing or equipment replacement.
LEAKING
Seal when leakage is the problem.
Accessible leakage can be repaired manually, while Aeroseal can address many smaller inaccessible leaks from inside suitable duct systems.
UNDERSIZED
Redesign when capacity is the problem.
Sealing or cleaning cannot increase the physical capacity of ductwork that is too small for the airflow the equipment requires.
HOW WE EVALUATE A DUCT SYSTEM
Follow the airflow from the equipment to the rooms — and back again.
A forced-air system is a loop. The blower has to move air through the equipment, supply ducts and registers, while the return system has to bring enough air back. Problems anywhere in that path can affect comfort and equipment performance.
1 • EQUIPMENT
Required Airflow
Determine what the furnace, air handler, heat pump or air-conditioning system requires and how the blower is configured.
2 • STATIC PRESSURE
System Resistance
Measure total external static pressure and relevant component pressure drops where appropriate to understand how hard the blower is working against the system.
3 • SUPPLY
Deliver the Air
Evaluate trunks, branches, transitions, dampers, boots and registers for sizing, restrictions, damage and distribution concerns.
4 • RETURN
Bring the Air Back
Evaluate return trunks, branches, grilles and filter arrangements for adequate capacity and excessive restriction.
5 • CONDITION
Leakage, Damage & Contamination
Look for applicable leakage, disconnections, crushed sections, failed transitions, blockages and contamination that may require cleaning or repair.
6 • CORRECT
Choose the Right Solution
Clean, seal, repair, resize, modify or balance according to what the investigation actually identifies.
STATIC PRESSURE & AIRFLOW
Static pressure tells us how much resistance the blower is working against.
Air has to move through the return grilles and ducts, filter, furnace or air handler, indoor coil, supply ducts and registers. Each component adds resistance. When total resistance becomes excessive, delivered airflow and system operation can be affected.
Restrictive Filters
A filter or filter cabinet can create excessive pressure drop when it is dirty, undersized or poorly matched to the airflow requirement.
Indoor Coils
Coil condition, selection and installation affect air-side pressure drop and can contribute to system restriction.
Undersized Returns
Insufficient return-air capacity can restrict the amount of air available to the blower.
Undersized Supplies
Supply trunks and branches that cannot carry the required airflow can create excessive resistance and distribution problems.
Dampers & Restrictions
Closed dampers, crushed ducts, blocked runs and poorly designed fittings can reduce airflow through individual branches or the entire system.
Poor Transitions
Abrupt or restrictive plenums and fittings can add unnecessary resistance even when the nominal duct size appears adequate.
CLEANING VS. SEALING VS. REPAIR
Three different services for three different types of problems.
CLEAN
Air Duct Cleaning
Addresses: applicable dust, debris and removable contamination.
Does not: resize ductwork, repair major disconnections or seal hidden leakage.
SEAL
Aeroseal & Manual Sealing
Addresses: leakage through applicable duct joints, seams and openings.
Does not: correct undersized ducts, blocked runs or major physical damage.
REPAIR / REDESIGN
Duct Modifications
Addresses: damaged, disconnected, undersized or poorly configured duct systems.
May include: trunks, branches, returns, plenums, transitions, boots, dampers and other distribution components.
HOT & COLD ROOMS
Do not automatically solve an airflow problem with larger HVAC equipment.
A room that is difficult to heat or cool may have a distribution problem rather than an equipment-capacity problem. Before increasing furnace, air-conditioner or heat-pump capacity, the supply path, return path, duct sizing, balancing, building load and equipment airflow should be considered.
Not Enough Supply Air
The branch may be restricted, undersized, poorly routed, leaking or inadequately connected to the main distribution system.
Not Enough Return Air
A room or area can have difficulty exchanging air when the return path is inadequate, particularly when doors are closed.
Balancing Problem
Air may be available but distributed incorrectly between branches or floors.
Building-Load Problem
Windows, insulation, orientation, additions and other building conditions can create loads that the existing distribution system was never designed to handle.
DAVESDUCTS DUCT SYSTEM SERVICES
One hub for the complete air-distribution system.
Residential Air Duct Cleaning
Professional residential HVAC-system cleaning with a defined process and documentation.
Commercial Air Duct Cleaning
Commercial HVAC-system cleaning for applicable facilities and mechanical systems.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Measured leakage testing and inside-out sealing for suitable existing duct systems.
Aeroseal for New Construction
Duct-sealing and verification for new homes and major construction projects where measured duct performance is required or desired.
Duct Repairs, Design & Installation
Physical repairs and modifications for damaged, poorly configured or inadequate supply and return systems.
Condo & Townhome Services
HVAC and duct-system services adapted to the access, equipment and building conditions found in multi-residential properties.
Dryer Vent Systems
Dryer exhaust cleaning plus investigation and repair of applicable exhaust-system deficiencies.
HRV & HEPA Filter Cleaning
Cleaning and maintenance services for applicable ventilation and filtration equipment.
NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT
Replacing the furnace or installing a heat pump? Check the duct system too.
New equipment does not automatically mean the existing ductwork is suitable. Modern furnaces, heat pumps and air handlers still depend on the connected supply and return system to move the airflow required at the selected operating conditions.
BEFORE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
Evaluate Airflow Capacity
Review relevant duct sizing, return capacity, filter arrangement, coil pressure drop and static pressure where system conditions warrant it.
AFTER EQUIPMENT SELECTION
Match the Distribution System
If the new equipment requires duct modifications, those changes should be incorporated into the project rather than leaving the new system connected to a known airflow deficiency.
CUSTOM HOMES & RENOVATIONS
Design the duct system before the drywall goes up.
New construction and major renovations provide the best opportunity to coordinate equipment airflow, supply and return sizing, trunk layout, branch runs, register locations, filtration, duct sealing and balancing before the system becomes concealed.
Mechanical Coordination
- Equipment airflow requirements.
- Supply and return duct sizing.
- Trunk and branch layout.
- Register and return locations.
- Filter and indoor-coil pressure drop.
- Static-pressure considerations.
Performance & Verification
- Accessible duct sealing.
- Aeroseal where appropriate.
- Leakage testing where included.
- Airflow and balancing considerations.
- Commissioning with the HVAC system.
- Coordination before finishes conceal the ductwork.
WHY DAVESDUCTS?
We can work on both sides of the problem: the HVAC equipment and the duct system.
DAVESDUCTS combines HVAC and gas licensing with specialized duct-system experience. Our duct-cleaning work is performed by personnel with NADCA ASCS/CVI credentials, and our broader mechanical work allows us to investigate equipment and airflow conditions that fall outside the scope of ordinary duct cleaning.
THE GOAL
Recommend the service that addresses the actual deficiency.
If the ducts need cleaning, clean them. If they leak, seal them. If they are damaged, repair them. If they are undersized or poorly designed, modify them. If the HVAC equipment is causing the problem, address the equipment instead.
DUCT SYSTEM FAQ
Common questions about ductwork and airflow.
What is the difference between duct cleaning, duct sealing and duct repair?
Duct cleaning removes applicable dust and debris from inside the HVAC system. Duct sealing addresses leakage through applicable joints, seams and openings. Duct repair or redesign addresses physical problems such as disconnections, damage, restrictions, inadequate sizing or poor configuration.
Can duct cleaning improve airflow?
Cleaning may help where significant contamination is restricting an applicable component or duct section, but many airflow problems are caused by duct sizing, return-air capacity, dampers, filters, coils, blower setup or other restrictions. The cause should be identified before assuming cleaning is the solution.
How do I know if my ducts are leaking?
Visible disconnections and damaged joints can identify some leakage, but concealed leakage may require pressure testing. DAVESDUCTS’ Aeroseal process measures duct leakage before and after sealing for suitable systems.
What is HVAC static pressure?
Static pressure is a measure of resistance to airflow in a forced-air HVAC system. Excessive resistance can be associated with restrictive filters, coils, undersized supply or return ductwork, dampers, fittings and other conditions.
Can Aeroseal fix undersized ductwork?
No. Aeroseal addresses duct leakage. It does not increase the physical airflow capacity of a duct that is too small, nor does it repair major disconnections, crushed ducts or blockages.
Why is one room hotter or colder than the rest of the house?
Possible causes include insufficient supply airflow, inadequate return path, duct leakage, branch sizing, balancing, restrictions, equipment airflow and differences in the room’s heating or cooling load. Diagnosis is preferable to assuming the HVAC equipment is undersized.
Can existing ductwork be used with a heat pump?
Often it can, but suitability depends on the airflow required by the selected heat-pump and air-handler or furnace combination. Existing supply and return capacity, static pressure and restrictions should be considered when designing the retrofit.
Should ductwork be replaced when replacing a furnace or heat pump?
Not automatically. Existing ductwork can often remain when it is in suitable condition and can support the required airflow. Deficient, damaged or inadequately sized portions should be corrected where necessary.
Can DAVESDUCTS add or modify return-air ductwork?
Yes, where the building and system allow it. Return-air modifications can be considered when inadequate return capacity or poor return pathways are contributing to an airflow problem.
Does DAVESDUCTS design duct systems for renovations and custom homes?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS can provide duct-system and HVAC mechanical work for suitable renovation, custom-home and light-commercial projects in Toronto and the GTA.
Does DAVESDUCTS provide duct-system services in Toronto and the GTA?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS provides duct cleaning, duct sealing, duct repair, airflow diagnostics and duct-system installation services throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
DUCT SYSTEMS • TORONTO & THE GTA
Not sure whether the ducts need cleaning, sealing or repair?
Tell DAVESDUCTS what the system is doing. We can help determine whether the problem points toward contamination, leakage, damage, airflow, duct sizing or the HVAC equipment itself.
