Ductwork installation - how to connect rectangular ductwork

Connecting rectangular ductwork may not be obvious at first glance. But once you know the pieces, the job to connect rectangular ductwork is really pretty simple.
The are 3 different connections that are involved in connecting duct sections.
First, a rectangular duct section is made by assembling two duct halves. The rectangular duct sections are design to be press fit together. Once 2 duct halves are fit together forming one duct section, to such duct sections can be joined end to end using s-cleats and drive cleats. "S" cleats are attached to the long ends of the rectangular duct. The drive cleats basically pinch the two rectangular sections toward each other and lock them together.
While determining duct sizing can involve calculations and fluid dynamics, assembling duct sections is very doable as a DIY project. For more content be sure and check us out at housebarons.com/

[@thuriyahassonali1364]

Thank you so much for zooming at those joints.. I always heard about those pieces but never fully understood until I saw your video.

[@Housebarons]

Hey Thuriya, Glad it helped - and thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@Le_Comte_de_Monte_Felin]

Thanks for a straight-forward explanation without any fanfare or awful music. Quite helpful as I'm about to tackle adding a fresh air return to my a/c system to help pull air down from the loft & vaulted ceiling. I had the duct but didn't know the name for those connectors. Subbed!

[@Housebarons]

Hey Dwayne, Awesome. Thx for subbing! Hope all goes well! Thx for watching!

[@jamesneat3929]

Thank you for the video, just what I needed to give me some confidence to fix some ductwork in my basement!

[@Housebarons]

Hey James, Perfect. Your confidence can carry you far ! I hope your project goes well. I have found that ductwork is easy to work with - EXCEPT for the sharp edges which takes extra care. Thx for watching!

[@tz0ma]

Excellent ! I rarely comment on how-to videos, but this was really good ! Would love to see how you do the duct work on how you join a register box to pull/pump-in air from/to the return duct (for an ERV)

[@Housebarons]

Hey tz…, Thx for commenting! We have zero experience with ERV… sounds like a cool apparatus though. Thx for watching!

[@Nellopi22]

Thank you for the video and details

[@Housebarons]

Glad it was helpful!

[@evanalexan]

Great video! Thank you

[@Housebarons]

Hey Evan, Thx so much! Glad it worked for you. Thx for watching!

[@joshuahalfpintslonesmixofm8654]

thank u

[@Housebarons]

Hey Joshua, Thx for watching!

[@brunomourasilva6247]

Hey, nice video. Do you have a video showing the whole install, including the ductwork? I want to install one of those, but I am concerned that my ductwork is too small. I want to install a 3-ton system, but my ducts are 8x14, unfortunately, the local contracts charge too much, I can not afford to pay them.

[@Housebarons]

Hey Bruce, Sorry. Our duct work was already in place. Here is our Mr Cool heat pump install. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4Wrnnxoo9unfbs As for the duct layout, we are renovating a 120 yr old house now and recently got a free duct work plan from a company connected with a big box store. The thought is - if you get a ductwork plan, you are equipped to buy the ductwork from the big box store. There are a lot of calculations that go with it - not too simple. But once you have the layout , you are half way there. It would be worth searching out. Thx for watching!

[@BoriPR82]

hey where did you buy the duct?

[@Housebarons]

Hey A …, Lowe’s or similar big box home store. Thx for watching!

[@BoriPR82]

@@Housebarons TY

[@stevenosmek4609]

Great video. Any suggestions on how to remove the S and C cleats from a section of rectangular ductwork that is running horizontally between floor joists? Maybe I have to drill holes in the other floor joists to pull the S cleat out from the side. I can't drop the ductwork very easily. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks again.

[@Housebarons]

Hey Steven, Cutting into floor joists would not be my first choice as those are structural AND the c-cleats are folded over. What about an angle grinder or ( slower ) an oscillation multi-tool to cut the ductwork? What are you doing? Changing the ductwork path, removing a section? The ductwork can easily be modified. Cutting out a section ( big or small ) should not be a big deal.... They don’t HAVE TO be joined by cleats. And they just form a channel for air to pass through. Repair using sheet metal screws and aluminum seam tape can be used to repair a cut section of ducting. Hope that helps. Thx for watching.

[@sheetmetalwork]

@@Housebarons I have a video that might help? You’ll find the removal happening at 14:17 minutes of this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/povXqYx_fKl_l7M

[@geraldstroppa3989]

That is a terrible way to assemble ductwork, lay it flat and for crying out loud use a sheet metal hammer

[@Youretryingtoohard]

Shut up