Fabricating Custom Ductwork in Glens Falls NY For Over 20 Years

K & E Sheet Metal has been fabricating custom ductwork in Glens Falls NY for over 20 years and we are doing our best to grow the business into the future, providing even better service to new and existing customers. We are a father and son business focusing on residential HVAC sheet metal fabrication along with residential heating and air conditioning installations. Our goal has and will forever be providing customers with quality, affordable duct fabrication and installation service. Helping home owners who need custom sheet metal fabrication with the products that will help them finish their ductwork installation properly. No job is too small for our shop when it comes to providing quality custom ductwork fittings for each and every one of our customers. We fabricate everything from standard custom ductwork to the smallest of sheet metal boxes or flat sheet metal for the everyday walk-in customer.

Because we have been fabricating custom ductwork in Glens Falls NY for so many years we have built a nice following of happy customers and relationships with area vendors. Our business was built on word of mouth advertising and customer recommendations are the catalyst to gaining an evolving local customer base. Our product speaks for itself locally and we work hard daily to continue the service that has kept the company alive over the last 20 years.

If you are looking for custom ductwork fittings or custom ductwork in Glens Falls NY, we are the place to call. We work with our customers to make sure they get the duct needed to finish the job properly.

Replacing your old furnace?

Are you replacing an old broken down furnace and need some custom transitions to fit the new furnace unit to the old duct? We can work with you to provide the custom transition needed to finish the job right, going over measurements and drawings or coming out to take measurements ourselves.

Need a custom supply air plenum or return air plenum?

These are our specialty and can fabricate your new supply air plenum in less than 24 hours from the time you place your order. Return air plenums take a bit longer but we will do our best to finish your order as soon as possible for an affordable price, helping you get the job done right.

Not sure what custom ductwork you need?

Do you live in and need custom ductwork in Glens Falls NY and your not sure what you need? Shoot us an email or give a call to see if we can help with your custom ductwork fabrication needs.

 

Improving The Efficiency & Life of Your Forced Air Heating & Cooling System

Many homes in the United States with forced air heating and cooling have duct work that is old and in need of repair or replacement. Most of these homes have had new furnaces installed over the years, but not the duct work, which would improve the efficiency of new units and keep them running longer. Many houses have duct work that is either too small or too big, installed improperly or not to code and is eating into the efficiency of those new furnace and air conditioning systems.

Here are a few issues we have run into over the years when it comes to forced air heating and cooling systems. These are common installer mistakes or problems in regards to the duct work for heating and air conditioning systems in your home.

Heating and cooling runs off the end cap

When you go into your basement and look at the main trunk line of your duct system, are there heat runs coming off the end caps of your main trunk? If so, this is something that should be checked and more than likely changed.

When your trunk line is not properly capped off, you lose the necessary pressure to send the air flow throughout the rest of the home. If you have lower flows of air in certain rooms of your house, especially upstairs, this could be the reason for those issues. It is a common problem and can be changed by a duct professional who specializes in duct work and sizing your systems. Many times you don't need to replace the whole system because those few runs off the ends of the duct could be re-routed and the main duct capped off at a reduced cost.

Your forced air heat runs may be too small

Over the years the furnace has gone through many changes and so have the methods in which duct work has been installed. Most furnace installations require at least 6" round pipe runs off your main trunk and sometimes larger depending on the furnace unit and size of the home. However, some homes built in the1950's and 1960's were fitted with smaller systems and 4" or 5" heat runs. These runs coupled with today's furnace can present problems with efficiency and life of your new HVAC units.

Increasing those runs to a proper 6" run and checking to make sure your duct is sized properly can help to improve your furnace efficiency and life span. If you are in the process of getting a new heating unit you may want to get a quote for proper sizing and installation of new duct work.

Is the duct system undersized?

Going along with the above tip, some main duct systems are undersized from the start and should be completely replaced to help with efficiency of the furnace. These  systems were either not installed by a professional or the new unit was retrofitted to an already existing duct system that was rated for the previous furnace. The new furnace may either be too big or too small for the existing duct work and because of this, certain rooms in the house my be neglected of proper air flow. This means that you may notice a room is too cool in the winter or too warm in the summer or possibly multiple rooms end up having these same problems. It may be that your duct system needs to be re sized to the new heating or cooling unit you now have installed. Newer units are made to run very efficiently, but an undersized full ducting system can harm the life of your newly installed,  efficient and money saving furnace.

Conclusion

These are a few of the common problems we find when replacing furnaces  in older homes. We will often make note and offer a free quote to the customer for minor changes or complete replacement of their duct system.

Having a brand new efficient, cost cutting forced air heating and cooling unit installed is great for your new or existing home. Recognizing and making sure that your duct system is sized and installed properly can guarantee that your investment will run great for it's lifetime.

For a few examples of our installations click here

 

List of HVAC Manuals and Books For Kindle

The Kindle and ipad are quickly becoming the norm when it comes to reading books and magazines instead of prior print editions. Well, the same goes for those bulky HVAC manuals that you have in your truck or office that you reference for data regularly.  

Good news!....Some of those same books are in convenient digital form for your Kindle or e-reader device so you can keep more of them on hand without the stacks and mess of heavy print books. Now you can take them on the go when you need them on a job, a quote or to and from the office daily without breaking your back. Here is a list of some of the more popular HVAC manuals and books for your Kindle or e-reader.
 

HVAC Equations, Data, and Rules of Thumb presents a wealth of state-of-the-art HVAC design information and guidance, ranging from air distribution to piping systems to plant equipment. This popular reference has now been fully updated to reflect the construction industry's new single body of codes and standards. Featuring an outline format for ease of use, the Second Edition of this all-in-one sourcebook contains: * Updated HVAC codes and standards, including the 2006 International Building Code * Over 200 equations for everything from ductwork to air-handling systems * ASME and ASHRAE code specifications * Over 350 rules of thumb for cooling, heating, ventilation, and more * New material including: coverage of the new single body of construction codes now used throughout the country
 
 
 
 IDENTIFY AND SOLVE EVEN THE MOST COMPLEX HVAC OPERATING PROBLEM IN SECONDS! Here's a single-source reference that provides quick accurate answers to even the toughest HVAC questions! Portable, simple, well-illustrated and with just enough text to get the job done, HVAC Instant Answers provides fingertip access to the HVAC solutions needed to solve even the most difficult problem – in a flash. Packed with schematic diagrams, system layouts, flowcharts, and graphics for the quickest, most understandable solution possible, HVAC Instant Answers is both a great learning tool for those entering the field as well as a reliable reference from which even experienced pros will learn something. You'll find crystal-clear descriptions of common symptoms, controls, and problems – along with the best solution. HVAC Instant Answers will tell you exactly what to do when problems occur with: * Air distribution systems * Central cooling plants * Compressors * Condensers and cooling towers * Converters * Fans and Pumps * Rooftop units * Steam distribution * Thermal energy storage systems * Valves and dampers * Water loops * Zones You'll also find a handy list of tools, sensor specification charts, and just about everything else you need to get the job done right. 
 
 THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY AVAILABLE This handbook brings you solutions to virtually any problem in the field. Leading U.S. and international experts help you to create and maintain safe and healthy environments in structures from hospitals to residences, and handle a range of questions from health and comfort effects and physiologic thresholds to ventilation measurement and employee programs. For answers on instrumentation, contaminants, codes, and guidelines--for the solutions you need to assess, design, and maintain healthy and productive indoor environments, Indoor Air Quality Handbook is the one source to have. Assess Indoor Air Quality Complaints-Evaluation Methods-Risk Management and Communication Strategies-Critical Review of Sick Building Investigations -Indoor Concentration Data for Microbiologicals, Chemical Compounds, Particles, and Fibers *Understand Critical Issues-Health and Productivity Costs of Poor IAQ-Filtration, Air Cleaning, and the New ASHRAE Standards Design Healthy, Comfortable, and Functional Buildings-Application of Models and Advanced Techniques-Commissioning Buildings to Perform as Designed-IAQ in Schools, Hospitals, Sports Facilities, Office Buildings Apartments, and Transportation Vehicles
 
 Keep it cool or heat things up This third volume of Audel’s HVAC Library gives you a comprehensive, hands-on guide to installing, servicing, and repairing all basic air-conditioning systems in both new and older construction. You’ll also find complete coverage of specialized heating units–radiators, radiant heating systems, stoves, fireplaces, heat pumps, and indoor/outdoor pool heaters, plus fans, exhaust systems, air filters, and more. It’s what you need to complete your HVAC reference library. * Make accurate calculations for AC system output * Tailor AC systems for older construction * Learn to install and service today’s popular electronic air cleaners and filters * Service less common heating systems such as coal-fired furnaces * Install, maintain, and repair humidifiers and dehumidifers * Handle radiators, convectors, and baseboard heating units
 
 
 
Click Here to get your very own Kindle
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Duct Tips: Sealing Your Ductwork For Efficiency

Tips for anything are a dime a dozen. This tip is no different, except that it can save that dime over and over again.

If you have an older duct system in your home, chances are the joints of the trunk duct and pipe aren't sealed properly. This can make your heating and cooling systems run less than efficient over the long run. Costing you money.


The good news is that simple things can be done to help the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system. One of the most important is the previously mentioned, sealing of the duct joints. This is an extremely cost effective way to save on heating cooling costs over time. Plus, it's an easy job for anyone and can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time.

First, I am providing a PDF link for the recommended best practices when sealing your ductwork. The document provides a great overview of the process and reasons for sealing your heating and air conditioning systems. Pictures accompany much of the descriptions for a better understanding of what is being explained.
Now for some visual stimulation. Since I am no video making genius, like many of us I went to youtube and found a simple video to help illustrate my point. Enjoy!

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No Break In The Heat Or The Slump

The heat here in the Glens Falls, Queensbury area has been scorching for the last two weeks. Not just dry heat either, it's been humid. Which usually means that our phones ring off the hook with people wanting air conditioning as soon as they can get it. This however has not been the case.

In the past when the heat has been this intense, we would be working what seemed like around the clock. People would call in the morning and want air conditioning by evening. Oh how times have changed. The recession has brought new rules to how the game is played. People are accepting the heat more, keeping there finances more in check(which they should) and maybe buying a window unit at Home Depot for $150. In fact, I heard a story from a colleague the other day about a women buying a few of these same units. She actually had central air conditioning, but it wasn't working. She received a couple of shady quotes and decided to buy three new window units, rather than research someone better to fix her already existing air system. This type of attitude does not bode well for business. She was willing to pay upwards of $500 for supplemental air conditioning instead of paying a reputable service man. She went with the guys working on the side who have basic knowledge, but not full knowledge. You know, the ones who are doing $3000 jobs for $1000. Undercutting guys like us. It makes business very challenging and hard to keep alive.

Heat or no heat, business has changed and so have the customers. I have learned a lot from the last two years of recession. Most of which is not to under appreciate the boom times, like they'll be there forever. Times are still a bit rocky but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Those same people getting work done for 1/4 of a fair price will be calling when their systems break down from faulty installation. When they call, we'll be ready. Business is business and you have to adapt to everything daily. Now we must make a more concerted effort to search out consistent business. Get our name out there and show that we do a great job, for a great price and we stand behind our work.

Don't forget to check out the new website  
kesheetmetal.com