What Applications Use a Large-Diameter Hose?

It is difficult to say what qualifies as a large hose. Of course, we know that a large-diameter hose is standardized in terms of its diameter (more specifically, its inside diameter), which is the distance between two opposing points located on the interior wall of your hose. It is the diameter of the hose that determines the relative size in this case, not the length of the hose. Usually, size is determined by length as well as diameter. However, when we are talking about large duct-work, we are referring to a hose with a large diameter and not necessarily its length. Some people may think of a 10-inch diameter hose as large, while large may be over 24 inches for others. Either way, large, flexible ducting comes in many sizes and can be used in many different applications. With such a broad concept of large-sized flex-ducting, you may be curious as to the finer aspects of using a large air-duct. What applications use a large-diameter hose? What is flexible ductwork good for? As we speak further on the topic of large-width, flexible ducting, you will understand the use and practicality of choosing a large-sized flex-hose.

What Determines Duct Size?

The inside diameter of your hosework mainly determines your duct’s size. Inside diameter is the measurement between one point on the inner wall of your hose to another opposite, interior point. The length also plays a role in the size of your ducting. Length is how long your hosework is, typically in feet. The length of your hosework is typically considered with less consequence than the inside diameter, as the diameter is the main indicator of the size of your hose. Just like men’s pants, which are sized by waist then length, it is the inside diameter that will determine whether or not your large-diameter hose will fit the fixture that you wish to attach it to. In this vein, it is the inside diameter (or width) that determines whether you are dealing with large, flexible ducting. The term “large,” however, is relative—as an object is deemed as large in its comparison with another. A sequoia tree is enormous compared to a human being, as these trees can grow to be over 300-feet tall. This is, however, inconsequential compared to the Empire State Building at 1,454 feet, which is then—in turn—miniscule compared to Mount Everest’s 29,032 feet in height. This is merely meant to prove that terms that describe size can never truly be quantified. So, the inside diameter is what determines duct size. However, what determines large, flexible ducting cannot be said. For fire fighters, a large-diameter hose is anywhere from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. At Ducting.com, a large-width flex-hose could be any duct with an ID size that exceeds 16 inches. Once again, size is relative when it comes to different types of applications. It is a good thing, then, that Ducting.com offers large-diameter, flexible hoses in a generous variety of sizes. With ID sizes ranging from 1.25 inches to 48 inches, Ducting.com can provide you with all sorts of ductwork to apply to many different applications! There is, however, other features to consider for your large ducting-pipe. How big should your ductwork be? Do you need flexible ductwork? Is flexible ductwork good?

Is Flexible Ductwork Good?

Flexible ductwork is good due to its manipulable and bendable characteristics, which make it easy to transport and install. Large, flexible ducting is well-suited for applications that require excessive flexing and bending—any spaces that are too tight for rigid or semi-rigid ductwork.  If you—perhaps—are attempting to install HVAC ventilation inside of your attic or a crawl space, or if you simply have a peculiarly-shaped house, using large-diameter flex ducts allows you to bend and turn your hosework. With flexible, bendable ductwork, you can bend your hosing to fit into the tighter areas of your home. The installation of flex ducts is quite simple due to their compressible and flexible nature. For example, Ducting.com’s Tornado Flex Flexible Air Ducting exhibits a compression ratio of 10-to-1 for hoses with an ID size of 4 and 5 inches, and a ratio of 11-to-1 for hoses with an ID-size 6 inches and above. This is an amazing compression ratio, meaning that a 50-foot section of this hose could be pressed down to under 5 feet! Instead of having to carry a 50-foot-long hose up to your attic, you would instead only have to haul a 5-foot section instead! Transportation may be a difficult task if your hosing is not nearly as compressible as the Tornado Flex.

Easier transportation and flexibility are what make installing large, flexible ducting so simple, making it possible for even the average person. Installing large flex-ducts is a relatively easy process that does not require as much expertise as installing rigid ducting, making flexible ducting user-friendly. If you are working on your own DIY ducting project, using flexible ducting will be easier than rigid or semi-rigid hosework. Of course, you should educate yourself on the basics of large ductwork before you dive into your home project. Since we have already formed this thorough guide on large-diameter flex ducting, this is a good place to start!

Large, flexible ducting can also feature its own, built-in insulation. This is advantageous for any application that involves the ducting of hot or cold fumes, as insulation will prevent temperatures from leaking into the interior of your ductwork. That is to say—what is hot will stay hot and what is cold will stay cold, whether it is inside or outside of your hose. Ducting.com stocks a wide selection of large-diameter, flexible ducts that also feature insulation. For example, the HVAC Insulated-Flex Ducting is an insulated duct that uses PET-film, aluminum-foil, and fiberglass in order to provide layers of insulation. The two, double-ply sections of aluminum foil protect both the inside and outside of the hose body. If you are ducting cold air, outside heat will not affect the interior. Similarly, if you are ducting hot air, the heat inside will not leak to the outside of the hose. PET-film and fiberglass also act as additional layers of insulation, retaining temperatures inside or outside of your hose. There are many applications that an insulated hose can be used for: insulating heat, insulating cold air, or even insulating sound! The HVAC Insulated-Flex comes in ID sizes of 4 inches to 12 inches. If this is not considered a “large” diameter flex-hose to you, the Wind Handler Insulated TU Insulated Ducting and the Tornado Flex Insulated AD Insulated Hose are stocked in ID sizes of 4 inches to 24 inches, but can be customized with an ID between 25 to 48 inches.

These hoses are coated-fabric hoses that feature a layer of insulation. They are incredibly flexible and compressible, making them perfect for applications that require extreme bendability as well as insulation. Large, flexible ductwork is good for a plethora of reasons—they are transportable, compressible, and easy to install. They can also fit into tight spaces, and can also have built-in insulation. Now that we have taken a look at the benefits of a large flex-hose, we must now explore the disadvantages of small ductwork. What are some downsides of small ductwork? Can undersized ductwork cause low airflow?

Can Undersized Ductwork Cause Low Airflow?

Yes, undersized ductwork can cause low airflow. There is a certain volume of air that your hose is meant to conduct; when you use a hose that is too small for your device, the pressure inside your duct increases and can cause it to explode. This is the risk you run when undersizing your ductwork; your hose could rupture, impeding the movement of air inside your ducting. When you use a duct that is too small for your unit, air is packed together tightly in order to fit through a reduced amount of space. This crowded state of air puts pressure on the internal walls of your hose. Constant pressure straining against the interior of your duct will cause it wear down, resulting in leaks, cracks, or tears. Yes—undersized ductwork can literally cause your hose to explode, ripping your ducting and rendering it useless! You will have to replace your hosework in this case, as a hose with a tear will only leak air—making your unit unproductive. You can now see that under-sizing your hosing can result in the decreased movement of air due to the deterioration of your hose’s structure. Using undersized ducting is not only bad for your hose—but it can also cause damage to your unit as well as your hosework. The inefficient movement of air due to a leak will prompt your AC (or whatever device you are using) to work harder in order to resolve this hinderance in the airflow. This additional strain on your unit will reduce the lifespan of your system, leading to an early retirement. As replacing your device only costs more money, effort, and time, you should ensure that your hose is the correct size for your unit. This is why it is important to acquire the correct size of ductwork for your device. Under-sizing your ductwork can have major consequences for your hosing and your unit. This is why opting for a large-sized, flexible hose is beneficial in cases that require large hosing. Of course, it is not a great idea to oversize your ductwork as well, as you will lose efficiency as a result of low air-pressure. However, you should not be afraid to use a large-sized hose for applications that require a duct with a large width. Ducts should be the proper size for the volume of air that the unit it is connected to is moving. Any situation that requires a large-sized duct should use one, as any situation that needs a small hose should utilize a small hose as well. Now that we have determined the importance of correctly sizing your ductwork, the applications in which you would use large flex-hoses must be said. If you are wondering, “What is a large-diameter hose used for?” we will cover this shortly.

What Is a Large-Diameter Hose Used For?

Simply put, large, flexible ducting is used for any application that require ventilation on a large scale. Large, flexible ducts can be used for moving fumes and light materials for agriculture-use, industrial-use, HVAC-ventilation, and so much more! Mere HVAC ventilation may call for a hose anywhere from 4 to 40 inches in diameter. Imagine the scale at which factories or farms use large-sized ducting! Large-diameter flex-hoses are typically utilized for applications involving fumes or light abrasions. This is why they are involved in agricultural or industrial situations, where this type of movement happens on a massive scale. For agriculture, large-diameter, rubber ducting can be used to transport grain from a silo or manure to a field. It can also be used to ventilate or collect dust in a barn. There is no end to the applications in which you can use a large-width duct! Factories utilize large-width ducting in order to properly ventilate enclosed areas, or heat and cool the building. Depending on what they produce, factories can often deal with dangerous chemical or hazardous materials—anything that would be unsafe for you to breathe. Large flex-ducting can suck up enormous quantities of fumes, dust, or airborne-materials inside of the factory and expel them outside, ensuring the safety of its workers. The proportion at which these large, factory hoses move materials is exorbitant, and would be unnecessary for, say, residential use. These are all likely applications in which you could use large, flexible hoses. You could even pair a large fan with a large duct! Fan units can be used to cool garages, gyms, warehouses—anything that requires a large barrel-fan can also utilize large, flexible ducting to go with it.

If you have, say, a 48-inch barrel-fan, you could attach a 48-inch-ID hose to conduct the airflow to different areas. At Ducting.com, the Tornado Flex Flexible Air Ducting could be customized to a 48-inch ID-size, among other sizes. Our coated-fabric, large-sized, flexible hoses are perfect for temporary venting applications, as they can be easily compressed down to a fraction of their size. They also come in lengths up to 50 feet so you do not have to worry about having a hose that is too short. Whether it is ducting the airflow of a fan, or ventilating a temporary structure such as a tent, the Tornado Flex excels at on-the-go ventilation.

Large-sized flex-ducts, in general, have a wide assortment of applications in ventilation. They can be used in factories and on farms, collecting dust or fumes, or ducting hot or cold air. Large-sized flex-hoses are perfect whenever you need ventilation on an enormous scale. A large hose is determined by its diameter, though the exact number at which a hose becomes “large” is unclear. Large-sized ducts can be large enough for a dog to run through, or they can be large enough to fit a person. The scale of large-sized, flexible ducting depends on the application. It is common for places like factories and farms to utilizes large-sized, flexible ducts that could be up to 40 inches in diameter. It would not be unheard of for ducting to even exceed this size! With large, flexible ducting being such a broad category with a plethora of applications, Ducting.com carries a generous selection of large-width hoses that can be used in many different applications. Large-width flex-ducting is best utilized for situations that require large volumes of air, materials, or fumes. That is to say, large applications necessitate similarly large hose-work. You should not attempt to reduce your ductwork excessively, as this can lead to restricted airflow and the degradation of your hose and unit.

A hose that is too small for its unit experiences excessive internal pressure that can cause the ductwork to explode. Whether this explosion is a leak, crack, or puncture depends on the hose and the amount of pressure, but it is likely that you do not want to find out for yourself! Large-width, flexible ducts can be used in a wide variety of applications, from agriculture to industrial. As long as your ductwork is correctly-sized to accommodate the volume of materials you are handling, large, flexible ducting can have large benefits for any application in which you use it.