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Owens Corning Fiberglass Valueflex™ Gray Flex Duct Deterioration & Failures
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
This article describes cases of
Owens Corning Valueflex™ gray flex duct disintegration as an example of
defective heating or cooling ductwork materials such as Goodman gray flex-duct, and some (not all) Owens Corning Flex-duct products.
We include references to product failures by manufacturers of similar flexible duct work products.
Readers concerned with deteriorating plastic and fiberglass-covered flex duct in buildings should see these duct failure reports: ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT, and GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT, and OWENS CORNING FLEXDUCT and OWL FLEXDUCT. Also see our more broad category: DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
OWENS CORNING FLEX DUCT - Deterioration
Air conditioning duct system defects include a remarkably wide range of errors, from failure to supply cool air or failure to even circulate air
in the building, to health hazards such as use of asbestos material in or on duct work, to very dangerous conditions such as drawing heating
equipment combustion gases into the building cooling (or heating) air.
This article describes Owens Corning Valueflex™ brand gray flex duct failures that appear as loss of the gray plastic duct covering due to brittleness that appears to be caused by exposure to heat (such as in a hot attic), with references to product failures by several manufacturers of flexible duct work,
including Alloy Systems™, Goodman™ flex duct, Owens Corning™ flex duct, Owl™ flex duct. We believe that none of these defective flex duct products is currently sold (2010) but both may be found in older homes. Note: not all
Owens Corning flex duct products share this defect and disintegration problem.
The loss of the protective plastic covering on flex duct poses several concerns including loss of the duct insulation, increased air conditioning system operating costs, and possibly air leaks out (if supply ducts are damaged) or un-wanted attic debris leaks in (if return ducts are damaged), and in-duct condensation in the HVAC system leading to mold and indoor air quality concerns.
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This generation of Owens Corning™ gray plastic-covered, fiberglass insulated duct material is a defective duct product.
As with the Goodman flex-duct problem described at GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT, in hot attic spaces or where exposed to UV light, the plastic of this Owens Corning flexible air conditioning
duct material disintegrates leaving its fiberglass insulation exposed to also disintegrate, leak, or possibly blow into
the building living space.
When a flex-duct product has lost its exterior plastic covering the effects are these:
- The cost of heating or cooling the building is increased due to lost insulation: because the ducts are no longer insulated from the ambient temperature in the attic or crawl space where they are located. For example, an air conditioning duct passing through a hot attic and missing its insulation will be heated by the ambient attic air, delivering warmer air to the living space than is desired.
- The cost of heating or cooling the building is increased due to leaks: because damaged ducts are more likely to leak, cooled or warmed air intended for the occupied space may be lost in the attic or crawl space where the damaged HVAC ducts are located.
In addition we might see these two indirect problems developing:
- Increased circulation of fiberglass particles from the duct insulation or from building insulation which may be picked up and blown into the building air supply
- Mold growth in the HVAC ducts due to loss of insulation and increased in-duct condensation in some circumstances. See Flexduct Lawsuit at our references below.
Replacement of the heating or air conditioning flexible sections of duct work is required - a significant expense which will be greater if flex-duct needs to be replaced where it passes through inaccessible areas such as finished walls or ceilings. - Thanks to Mark Cramer for this photo.
of Owens Corning gray flex duct disintegrating in a Florida attic.
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Notice that not all Owens Corning flex-duct products will fail in this manner
and unless you specifically find evidence of this deterioration, replacement of the flex-duct in a building may not be warranted. Where this duct is found in a building it should be replaced.
Below at Technical Reviewers & References we include Flexible Air Duct Installation Manuals, standards, guidelines, and contact information for several flexible air duct manufacturers as well as access to Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards provided by the Air Diffusion Council.
Readers concerned with deteriorating plastic and fiberglass-covered flex duct in buildings should see these duct failure reports: ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT, and GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT, and OWENS CORNING FLEXDUCT and OWL FLEXDUCT. Also see our more broad category: DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
Click to Show or Hide Citations & References
- Flexduct lawsuit, Richard T.D. Bethea et als, v. Song Hee Hong, et al, filed may 29, 2009, Jackson Tennessee Court of Appeals, dispute involving the contract for sale of a house. A musty odor was associated with mold contaminated flex duct in the building. The ductwork could not be cleaned because of its fragility - an Owl-flex duct product. Sellers (correctly) asserted that the ductwork could not be cleaned. The court finding includes the statement that "OWL FLEX ductwork was uncleanable". The buyers ability to terminate the sales contract was upheld.
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
- Thanks to Jon Bolton, an ASHI, FABI, and otherwise certified Florida home inspector who provided photos of failing Goodman gray flex duct in a hot attic.
- "Design & Installation of Residential Flexible Ductwork Systems", Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 60 Executive Park, NE, Atlanta GA 30329
- (404) 679-4940 - (800) 359-4663 [Also see the installation manuals below at JPL] - original source dca.state.ga.us/development/constructioncodes/publications/1ONE.pdf
"1. This information is intended to assist contractors, installers and code officials in the proper design and installation of flexible ductwork systems. The information presented in this document comes primarily from sources in the International Mechanical Code including referenced standards and Georgia Amendments.
2. It is recommended as a guide that HVAC system documentation, including owner’s manuals, manufacturer’s installation instructions and a sketch of the duct system design that details duct size and approximate duct lengths be provided to the building owner or posted on the air handling unit or furnace. (See sample Duct System Design Sketch). Documentation should also include Manual J calculations."
- "Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards", Air Diffusion Council, 1901 N. Roselle Road, Suite 800, Schaumburg, Illinois 60195, Tel: (847) 706-6750, Fax: (847) 706-6751 - info@flexibleduct.org - www.flexibleduct.org/ -
"The ADC has produced the 4th Edition of the Flexible Duct Performance & Installation Standards (a 28-page manual) for use and reference by designers, architects, engineers, contractors, installers and users for evaluating, selecting, specifying and properly installing flexible duct in heating and air conditioning systems.
Features covered in depth include: descriptions of typical styles, characteristics and requirements, testing, listing, reporting, certifying, packaging and product marking.
Guidelines for proper installation are treated and illustrated in depth, featuring connections, splices and proper support methods for flexible duct. A single and uniform method of making end connections and splices is graphically presented for both non-metallic and metallic with plain ends."
The printed manual is available in English only. Downloadable PDF is available in English and Spanish.
- Flexduct lawsuit, Richard T.D. Bethea et als, v. Song Hee Hong, et al, filed may 29, 2009, Jackson Tennessee Court of Appeals, dispute involving the contract for sale of a house. A musty odor was associated with mold contaminated flex duct in the building. The ductwork could not be cleaned because of its fragility - an Owl-flex duct product. Sellers (correctly) asserted that the ductwork could not be cleaned. The court finding includes the statement that "OWL FLEX ductwork was uncleanable". The buyers ability to terminate the sales contract was upheld.
- Owens Corning Duct Solutions - www.owenscorning.com/ductsolutions/ - provides current HVAC ductwork and duct insulating product descriptions and a dealer locator. Owens Corning Insulating Systems, LLC, One Owens Corning Parkway, Toledo, OH 43659 1-800-GET-PINK™
- "Flexible Duct Media Fiberglas™ Insulation, Product Data Sheet", Owens Corning - see owenscorning.com/quietzone/pdfs/QZFlexible_DataSheet.pdf
"Owens Corning Flexible Duct Media Insulation is a lightweight, flexible, resilient thermal and acoustical insulation made of
inorganic glass fibers bonded with a thermosetting resin."
- "Flexible Duct Performance and Installation Standards", (3rd ed.) – Air Diffusion Council, 1901 N. Roselle Road, Suite 800,
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195,
Tel: (847) 706-6750 -
Fax: (847) 706-6751 email: info@flexibleduct.org
- HVAC Duct Construction Standards—Metal and Flexible (1995 ed.) – Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, Inc. (SMACNA)
- J.P. Lamborn Co., 559-650-2120 / fax 559-650-2112, email: cuserv@jplflex.com - original source for the air duct installation manuals below - http://www.jplflex.com/featured/instructions.asp - note that these FlexDuct installation guides provided by JP Lamborn Co. originate with the Air Diffusion Council - referenced above.
Flexible air duct Installation Instructions for Air Ducts & Connectors without fittings
Flexduct Installation Instructions for Flexible Air Ducts & Connectors with fittings
Flex duct Installation Instructions for Flex Ducts & Connections using mastic
"Originally founded in 1961, JP Lamborn Co. has grown to become one of the largest producers of insulated flexible duct in the country. With 4 state of the art manufacturing plants strategically positioned across the USA in order to serve a growing national distributor base. The company prides itself in delivering quality, service, innovations and competitive pricing to customers it serves."
- International Mechanical Code, 2000 Edition, with 2001, 2004 & 2005 Georgia Amendments
- Manual D—Residential Duct Systems – Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- Complete List of Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Design, Inspection, Repair Books at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
- Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, A. D. Althouse, C.H. Turnquist, A. Bracciano, Goodheart-Willcox Co., 1982
- Principles of Refrigeration, R. Warren Marsh, C. Thomas Olivo, Delmar Publishers, 1979
- "Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I & II", BOCES Education, Warren Hilliard (instructor), Poughkeepsie, New York, May - July 1982, [classroom notes from air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance and repair course attended by the website author]
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, 5th Ed., William C. Whitman, William M. Johnson, John Tomczyk, Cengage Learning, 2005, ISBN 1401837654, 9781401837655 1324 pages
 Air Conditioning SEER - New DOE Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Efficiency Standard- Asbestos HVAC Ducts and Flues field identification photos and guide
- Fiberglass: Indoor Air Quality Investigations: Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
- ...
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