DUCTWORK INSTALLATION • REPAIR • DESIGN • TORONTO & THE GTA
Ductwork repair, design & installation — built around airflow.
DAVESDUCTS installs, repairs, modifies and redesigns residential and applicable light-commercial duct systems throughout Toronto and the GTA. We work with complete supply and return systems, trunks, branches, plenums, transitions, equipment connections, boots and custom sheet-metal components — with airflow and the HVAC equipment considered together.
DUCTWORK SERVICES
Repair what can be repaired. Redesign what needs to be redesigned.
Not every airflow complaint requires new ductwork, and not every damaged duct system should simply be sealed. We first identify what the existing air-distribution system is doing, then define the appropriate repair, modification or installation scope.
INSTALL
New Ductwork Installation
Complete or partial supply and return systems for custom homes, renovations, additions, basement projects and applicable light-commercial work.
REPAIR
Duct Repairs & Modifications
Repair disconnected, damaged, leaking, restrictive or poorly configured ductwork and modify existing systems where practical.
DESIGN
Airflow & Duct Design
Evaluate supply, return, equipment airflow, static pressure, distribution and building requirements before determining what should change.
AIRFLOW MATTERS
The ductwork and HVAC equipment have to work as one system.
A furnace, air conditioner, heat pump or hydronic air handler depends on the duct system connected to it. A new high-performance piece of equipment cannot overcome every problem created by restrictive ductwork, inadequate return air or poor transitions.
Airflow
Evaluate whether the supply and return system can move the airflow required by the equipment.
Static Pressure
Investigate resistance through filters, coils, plenums, trunks, fittings, branches and grilles where appropriate.
Distribution
Consider how air is supplied to and returned from the occupied spaces instead of looking only at one side of the system.
COMPLETE DUCTWORK INSTALLATION
Supply and return air distribution from the equipment outward.
A properly installed duct system is more than metal pipe. Trunk sizes, branch layout, return-air capacity, fittings, transitions, register locations and equipment connections all affect how the finished system performs.
Supply Air Systems
- Supply trunks and main ductwork.
- Branch supply runs.
- Takeoffs, elbows and fittings.
- Floor, wall and ceiling register boots.
- Equipment supply plenums.
- Custom transitions and offsets.
Return Air Systems
- Return-air trunks and branches.
- Return drops and return-air bases.
- Filter cabinet connections.
- Equipment return transitions.
- Return grilles and openings.
- Additional return-air provisions where required by the design.
COMMON DUCT PROBLEMS
Symptoms in the rooms can start with problems in the duct system.
Weak airflow and uneven temperatures should be investigated rather than automatically blamed on the furnace or heat pump.
Hot & Cold Rooms
Uneven comfort can involve duct sizing, balancing, leakage, branch layout, return-air paths, equipment operation or the building load.
Weak Airflow
Restrictive fittings, undersized trunks, crushed or disconnected ducts, inadequate returns and high system resistance can reduce delivered airflow.
Excessive Noise
High velocities, restrictive grilles, poor transitions and undersized duct sections can contribute to unwanted air-distribution noise.
Disconnected Ducts
Separated branches, takeoffs or fittings require physical reconnection and support rather than cleaning or aerosol sealing alone.
Duct Leakage
Accessible leakage can often be sealed manually. Distributed leakage in an otherwise sound system may also be a candidate for Aeroseal.
Poor Equipment Connections
Replacement equipment may require new plenums, return drops, filter arrangements or transitions instead of being forced into the old connection.
DUCT REPAIR & MODIFICATION
Not every duct problem requires complete replacement.
When the existing system is fundamentally usable, targeted repairs and modifications can often address the actual deficiency while retaining ductwork that is still suitable.
Physical Repairs
- Disconnected duct sections.
- Damaged or deteriorated ductwork.
- Accessible duct leakage.
- Poorly secured fittings and takeoffs.
- Damaged or separated register boots.
- Accessible flex-duct deficiencies.
- Missing or inadequate duct supports.
System Modifications
- Supply trunk alterations.
- Return-air alterations and additions.
- Plenum replacement or modification.
- Branch rerouting.
- Register and grille relocation.
- Equipment transition changes.
- Filter cabinet and return-drop modifications.
DIAGNOSE BEFORE REBUILDING
Find the restriction before replacing the ductwork.
Airflow problems can come from the duct system, but they can also come from filtration, coils, blower setup, equipment selection or a combination of conditions. When appropriate, DAVESDUCTS evaluates the system before defining a major ductwork scope.
Total External Static Pressure
Static-pressure measurements can help determine whether the air-distribution system is operating with excessive resistance.
System Configuration
Review trunks, returns, fittings, transitions, filtration and equipment connections as parts of the complete airflow path.
Actual Site Conditions
Finished ceilings, framing, joists, bulkheads and existing mechanical systems affect what modifications are practical in an existing building.
DUCT DESIGN
Good duct design starts with the building and the equipment.
Ductwork should be arranged around the airflow required by the HVAC system and the heating and cooling needs of the spaces it serves — not simply around whatever duct sizes are easiest to fit.
Design Considerations
- Building heating and cooling requirements.
- Required equipment airflow.
- Supply trunk and branch sizing.
- Return-air capacity.
- Available static-pressure budget.
- Register and grille locations.
- Room-by-room distribution.
Installation Considerations
- Available building space.
- Framing and structural limitations.
- Filter and coil pressure drop.
- Fitting configuration and equivalent length.
- Transitions, offsets and equipment orientation.
- Access for future service.
- Renovation and architectural constraints.
HVAC DESIGN
Heat-loss and heat-gain calculations may be part of the project.
When equipment sizing, a major renovation or a new mechanical system is involved, building load calculations and HVAC design information can help establish the equipment and airflow requirements before the duct system is finalized.
CUSTOM SHEET METAL
Fabricated for the equipment and the actual building.
HVAC equipment and existing buildings rarely connect perfectly with generic fittings. Custom sheet-metal fabrication allows the air-distribution system to be adapted to equipment dimensions, available space and the intended airflow path.
Plenums
Supply and return plenums fabricated around equipment and distribution requirements.
Transitions
Custom transitions between furnaces, coils, air handlers, filter cabinets and existing duct systems.
Trunks & Fittings
Custom trunk sections, offsets, takeoffs and fittings for new installations and system modifications.
RENOVATIONS & NEW CONSTRUCTION
Plan the ductwork before the available space disappears.
Mechanical planning becomes increasingly difficult once framing, plumbing, electrical, ceilings and architectural details occupy the same space. DAVESDUCTS works with homeowners, builders and project professionals on ductwork for custom homes, additions and major renovations.
Custom Homes
Complete supply and return air distribution based on the mechanical design, equipment requirements and actual construction conditions.
Major Renovations
Reconfigure or replace ductwork when room layouts, walls, equipment locations or mechanical systems change.
Additions
Evaluate whether the existing HVAC system can appropriately serve the added space before simply extending existing branches.
Basement Renovations
Modify trunks and branches around the new layout while considering airflow to the existing floors above.
Mechanical Remediation
Correct portions of installations where duct configuration, access, transitions or airflow require improvement.
Light-Commercial Projects
Applicable duct installation, modification and custom sheet-metal work for commercial mechanical systems.
HVAC EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
New equipment does not automatically fit the old ductwork.
Equipment dimensions, airflow requirements, filter arrangements and coil configurations change. The duct connections should be evaluated when a furnace, heat pump, coil or air handler is replaced rather than assuming the existing plenums and transitions remain appropriate.
Furnaces
Supply plenums, return drops, filter cabinets and transitions may require modification for the replacement equipment.
Heat Pumps
Airflow requirements should be considered together with the indoor coil, furnace or air handler and existing supply and return system.
Hydronic Air Handlers
Custom transitions and equipment supports can be coordinated around the requirements of the air handler and connected coil system.
DUCT LEAKAGE
Repair major defects. Seal distributed leakage where appropriate.
Physical disconnections, damaged sections and major openings need manual repair. Where the duct system is physically intact but has distributed leakage through joints and seams, Aeroseal may be an appropriate way to seal many leaks that are difficult to access manually.
Manual Duct Repair
Best suited to accessible physical defects, failed connections, damaged duct sections, major openings and construction deficiencies.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Designed to reduce applicable distributed leakage in an otherwise connected duct system, with measured pre-seal and post-seal results.
DRYER EXHAUST
Dryer exhaust is not ordinary HVAC ductwork.
Dryer exhaust has its own material, routing and termination considerations. Concealed flexible duct, damaged exhaust, poor routing or unsuitable terminations should be addressed as dryer-exhaust problems rather than treated like normal supply or return ductwork.
OUR PROCESS
Investigate. Define the scope. Build it properly.
01
Investigate
Review the existing system, project conditions and the reason ductwork changes are being considered.
02
Measure
Measure equipment, ductwork and available space and perform airflow or static-pressure diagnostics where appropriate.
03
Define the Scope
Determine what should be installed, repaired, modified or fabricated before the work is priced and approved.
04
Install & Verify
Complete the approved ductwork scope and verify system operation as applicable to the work performed.
DUCTWORK FAQ
Common questions about duct repair, design and installation.
Who repairs and installs HVAC ductwork in Toronto and the GTA?
DAVESDUCTS provides residential and applicable light-commercial ductwork repair, modification, design and installation throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, subject to project location and scope.
Does DAVESDUCTS install complete duct systems?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS can install complete or partial supply and return systems including trunks, branches, plenums, transitions, boots, fittings and equipment connections.
Can you replace only part of an existing duct system?
Yes. Where the existing system remains suitable, individual trunks, branches, returns, plenums and other sections can often be repaired, replaced or modified without replacing everything.
Can bad ductwork cause poor airflow or hot and cold rooms?
Yes. Restrictive fittings, undersized trunks, inadequate return air, damaged ducts, poor transitions, leakage and distribution problems can contribute. Equipment operation and building loads can also be factors, which is why diagnosis is important.
Can you add more supply vents to fix a cold room?
Sometimes, but adding a branch is not automatically the correct solution. The existing system’s airflow, duct capacity, return-air path and room heating or cooling requirement should be considered before modifying the distribution.
Can you add or enlarge return-air ductwork?
Yes, where the building and system permit it. Return-air capacity is an important part of the total airflow path and may need modification when the existing return system is restrictive or when equipment changes.
Should ductwork be checked when replacing a furnace or heat pump?
It is often worthwhile. Replacement equipment may have different dimensions, airflow requirements, coil configurations and filter arrangements, so existing plenums and transitions are not automatically appropriate.
Do you fabricate custom sheet metal?
Yes. Custom plenums, transitions, trunk sections, offsets, takeoffs and fittings can be fabricated as part of duct installation, repair and mechanical-remediation projects.
Can Aeroseal replace damaged ductwork?
No. Aeroseal is intended for applicable distributed leakage in an otherwise connected duct system. Disconnections, major openings, damaged sections and physical restrictions require manual repair or replacement.
Do you install ductwork for custom homes and renovations?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS works with homeowners, builders and project professionals on new construction, custom homes, additions, basement projects and major renovations.
Does DAVESDUCTS work on commercial ductwork?
DAVESDUCTS undertakes applicable light-commercial duct installation, modification and mechanical-remediation projects. Project suitability depends on the building, system and required scope.
DUCTWORK INSTALLATION • REPAIR • DESIGN
Planning new ductwork or trying to fix an existing system?
Tell DAVESDUCTS what is being renovated, installed or changed and what problem you are trying to solve. We can help determine whether the next step is an investigation, targeted duct repair, airflow modification, custom fabrication or a new duct system.
