Duct and Cover

AT LAST! I have my furnace ducting finished. It has been a long job– took weeks– but it is complete. It took so long to complete this because the ducts are so integrated with the room (walls and floor). I now have three heat vents and one cold air return. I should actually have another cold air return, but I am going to wait on it until I remodel the accompanying room (when we finally remove the crumbling chimney).

I can’t even begin to explain how I did this job, it was so time-consuming and complicated. Cutting the metal with tin snips was the hardest part, I think. Also difficult was screwing in the sheet metal screws.

I do not consider my ductwork to be final. This is something I would truly like a professional to do. Working with metal, and that room by room, is enormously laborious. I had to do this room myself because the cost isn’t in the budget right now. I think I did a good enough job to last us a few years. By then I’ll probably hire my furnace guy to redo everything. Ductwork is pretty intense work. I have great respect for my furnace repairman.

I did not recycle as much of the old ducting as I wanted. This is mainly because the old ducting is 7-inch diameter. Modern measurements are 6- or 8-inch. I was in a real pickle, trying to make things match. I used a few adapters (6- to 7-inch) and I stuck with the flexible ducting. I suppose I could have bought all new 6-inch ductwork, but it would have cost a small fortune for this room.

Anyway, I think my adaptations are acceptable. I can rest easy that we are ready for winter now. The ducting is sealed good and tight. It is free from drafts and finally free from all those spiders making their nests in the holes.