Choosing Flex Duct or Hard Duct for Your New HVAC System

If you are thinking about installing a new HVAC system this summer, you're going to need to consider what type of ducting you will use to distribute the air through your home.

There are a couple of options to choose from, as you may have gathered from the title of this hub. Flex and hard duct both have their benefits but they also have their downfalls which you will find out below.

Flex Duct - Flex duct or flex piping is quite a bit more cost effective than hard pipe, due to the increasing costs of metal. The biggest benefit with using flex pipe is that it is much easier and faster to install. It can easily be ran in tight spaces and works well in existing spaces. The downfall to using flex duct is that it is less efficient than hard duct. Flex duct has a ridgid interior which creates turbulence in the passing air causing your system to lose a little efficiency.

Should you choose to go with a flex duct system, it is recommended to increase the size of the pipe by around one inch. In other words, if you are going to run a 6 inch pipe and using flex duct, increase that to a 7 inch for better results.

Hard Duct - Hard duct will cost more and require more labor to install but is more efficient and will usually last longer than flex duct. Hard duct has a smooth interior and as a result does not cause the air disturbance like flex duct will. In most cases, hard duct can last forever without requiring any replacement or repairs.

If you are using hard duct you can increase the efficiency even more by wrapping the exposed pipe with insulation. There is a special insulation made for this and can usually be purchased in the same section that you find the duct at your local store.