Why You Should Get Your HVAC Duct Design Right

You already know it takes a lot of forethought and planning to set up your next building project for success. Between the permitting, architectural design, MEP design, and everything else that goes into a new build, there are a lot of hats to wear — so why is it so important to have the ductwork of your project designed by a seasoned, experienced ductwork design professional?

Efficiency, Reliability, Comfort

Investing in proper HVAC duct design lays a foundation for reliable and efficient comfort for years to come. The better the ductwork design, the easier it is for connected HVAC equipment to provide the conditioned air that future occupants will need in order to stay comfortable. Plus, the less work a furnace or air conditioner has to put in, the lower the monthly bills will be.

That’s not all! There’s a full list of benefits, such as:

• Reduced carbon footprint
• Longer life expectancy for HVAC equipment
• Increased indoor air quality (IAQ)
• Lower annual heating & cooling costs
• Decreased risk of an HVAC breakdown (& the related costs)

So, you may be asking “What all goes into designing the perfect ductwork?”

Intuitive Duct Design with Balanced Comfort

There are many factors that go into designing a system of ductwork that will keep costs down and still provide reliable comfort from the related HVAC equipment, including:

Determining the load calculation

In order to determine the exact Manual J, or Manual N load calculations for your commercial or residential project, we will use the latest in computer modeling in conjunction with the following information about your building:

• Building envelope information (wall, roof, floor, partitions, window areas) along with construction types
• Orientation and location of the building
• Occupant usage and density
• Equipment and lighting loads
• Ventilation and Outside Air (OSA) requirements
• Proposed HVAC equipment systems to be used

Proper Duct Sizing

Once we have the load calculation, we can determine the correct sizing for your ductwork. This is where many ductwork designs go south! At Balanced Comfort, our experienced mechanical engineer takes painstaking measures to ensure that the related ductwork isn’t too large (which can lead to low air flow and an overworked HVAC system) or too small (which pushes much less air through your returns and supply registers, and also overworks your HVAC system). Ductwork should be sized based on the load calculation and equipment used.

Minimizing runs and turns

This is where the magic happens when it comes to the design process — reducing the friction in the air flow of your ductwork, making it as easy as possible on your HVAC equipment. This includes reducing the number of twists and turns, and minimizing the long runs that lead to energy loss due to friction. This can also reduce the number of cracks, holes and gaps that tend to form in poorly designed ductwork, greatly decreasing the number of outside contaminants that can infiltrate the air circulated throughout the HVAC system.

ASHRAE Compliant Duct Design

With over 30 years of experience designing commercial and residential ductwork in Nevada, California, and Arizona, the Balanced Comfort team of HVAC, ductwork, and ventilation design engineers are the premier experts in ASHRAE compliant ductwork design. From load calculations and design, to inspection during construction, Balanced Comfort is your partner from start to finish when it comes to building the perfect ductwork system.

Discover the difference expert duct design can make on your next project. Start your duct design with Balanced Comfort’s licensed mechanical engineer!If you are looking to make your next building project healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient, get in touch with the Balance Comfort team today!