Flexible ducting is a very important component of applications including heating and cooling systems and material transportation. As featured on our website, ducting.com, we offer a complete line of flexible ducting that are as durable as they are affordable. The hoses available are made for both light and heavy-duty applications such as air ventilation, solid waste handling, material handling, industrial exhaust, high temperature ventilation and abrasives transfer. These flexible hoses are made out of durable and long-lasting materials such as rubber, PVC, Nomex, Hypalon and sheet metals that are still malleable enough for easy placement. This flexible quality is a mainstay of our flexible suction hoses, even with the different materials that are used in making of these hoses.
What is Flexible Ducting?
Flexible ducting is an open-ended cylindrical product that is used to move a range of media including high and low temperature air, dust, abrasives, larger non-abrasive materials and fumes. Normally, flexible suction hoses are available in rubber, plastic and metal materials each with their own unique properties and applications. For instance, stainless-steel ducts are ideal for use as high temperature flexible hoses because of their strength and resistance to extreme temperatures. Other times, less hardy ducts such as a flexible plastic hose is an excellent product for dust collection but can also transfer harsh chemical and toxic fumes due to their resistance to corrosive materials. It is important to use the correct ducting materials for certain applications so that they can effectively create a safe and healthy home or workplace without the worry of dangerous leaks. One thing to keep in mind is, despite the varying materials, flexibility is a common factor with all our hoses.
1. What Type of Ductwork is Best?
Ductwork for an application is first selected based on the media being moved air, dust, materials, abrasives, high temps, or chemical fumes. Then, the degree of duct flexibility required, wear tolerance, ID size required, and budgetary demands will play into the hose selected. Depending on the nature of your application, you will want to pick the material of your flexible hoses carefully to avoid costly mistakes. Although each product has a different degree of flexibility, they each have the ability to bend and move according to the user’s needs without compromising airflow or the flow of materials being transferred.
1(a). Metal Ducting
Flexible ducting is often used in air ventilation applications; however, since the air can have varying high and low temperatures, it is important to find the right material that will not degrade in extreme temperatures. High temperature air can be detrimental to the composition of a hose if they are not made with materials that are able to withstand extreme temperatures. Flexible metal hoses are recommended for transferring hot air from point A to point B due to their resistance to heat. Aluminum and stainless-steel high temperature flexible hoses are two types of hoses that are able to withstand extreme temperatures. Aluminum can withstand temperatures as low as -100 degrees Fahrenheit and temperatures as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Stainless-steel, however, can handle even lower temperatures of -400 degrees Fahrenheit and higher temperatures of 1650 degrees Fahrenheit. While flexible ducting is important, many of our metal hoses do not flex and bend the way a light plastic hose might due to the rigidity of the material used. Many flexible metal hoses are self-supporting, yet are still flexible in that they can be bent into the desired shape and it stays in that form. This more rigid form of flexible ducting can be manipulated and allows flexible metal hoses to provide unparalleled stability and durability.
1(b). Rubber Ducting
Flexible ducting made of rubber are available in compounds such as neoprene or thermoplastic rubber that are both durable and flexible materials. Rubber ducting is best suited for material handling situations due to their durability and heavy-duty nature. Compared to metal ducting, rubber flexible hoses will not be affected by the movement of abrasive materials being transferred through them. For instance, flexible metal hoses, while tough and hard, can be dented and scraped by the materials being transported. Rubber flexible ducting, on the other hand, is able to perform both light and heavy-duty applications ranging from sucking up leaves to automotive applications under the hood of a car. Rubber flexible ducting is the only type of ducting hose that is available in multiple wall thicknesses. The thicker the wall of the hose, the less flexible it will be; however, with a choice of thickness, operators are able to use rubber ducting for the most abrasive applications.
1(c). Plastic Ducting
Plastic flexible suction hoses are often used for air movement, handling fumes and material transferring such as dust, leaves and woodchips. The term “plastic” is an overgeneralization of our plastic hoses as they are made using crush-resistant PVC and polyurethane materials. A flexible plastic hose made of these two materials provide excellent resistance to corrosion from harsh chemicals and oxidation from moisture as well as crush resistance. A flexible plastic hose can be purchased in light, medium and heavy-duty forms depending on its use and applications. Lighter duty plastic ducting includes dust collection or ambient air circulation while heavier duty plastic ducting is generally used to transfer abrasive materials, dangerous chemicals and fumes. Nevertheless, all plastic hoses are far less susceptible to abrasions from larger materials and corrosion from harsh chemicals than other types of ducting hoses such as rubber or metal. These flexible hoses are malleable and moveable and are the perfect light-weight ducting products for commercial and residential spaces.
How Long Will Flex Ducts Last?
Flex ducts are made to last for years since they can sometimes be found in hard-to-reach places such as within walls, ceilings and behind heavy machinery. This, however, is true if the correct flexible hoses are used for particular purposes or applications. For example, if a flexible plastic hose is being used to transfer air of extremely high temperatures, it will not last long because plastic was not meant for this application. However, if flexible metal hoses were used instead, the ducts will last for years. To further enhance the longevity of flexible hoses, wear strips are available to protect the outside surface from damage when being moved to a different location. It is important to use the correct ducting for certain applications because, since the ducts are hidden, they are easily forgotten about and damages to these flexible hoses can lead to costly, or even potentially dangerous, leaks and abrasions.
Flexible ducting is a necessary part of commercial and industrial applications to keep a healthy home and work environment. These unique products are the best solution for abrasive material handling, high temperature, air ventilation, dust collection and chemical fumes. We aim to provide the highest quality flexible ducting hoses to consumers at affordable prices. Whether you need high temperature flexible hoses or a general-purpose flexible plastic hose, you can rest assured that we can help you complete your project. Please view our entire catalog at www.ducting.com – the premier site for all things ducting.