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Duct heaters provide enhanced comfort and increased system efficiency by maintaining or accelerating warm air flowing throughout ductwork within a building, especially in areas furthest away from the main HVAC unit. Duct heaters are traditionally used in forced air systems to provide standalone space heat or to supplement existing heating systems.
Finned tube and open coil styles are available and can be custom designed up to 1000 KW, in slip-in or flanged configurations, with galvanized steel frame and terminal box constructions.
All duct heaters are custom engineered to match a specific application. Optional construction features include recessed, dust-tight, or insulated terminal box, and/or insulated flanges and protective screens. They are designed for comfort ventilation applications. They are used in forced air applications to provide standalone space heat or to supplement existing heating systems.
Duct heaters are designed to meet most residential and light commercial requirements for use in forced air duct systems. They may be used as the primary source of heat or as supplementary or stand-by heat to heat pump, gas, or oil-fired systems. Several units may be used in a large duct or systems with branch ducts for zoning or separate thermostat for zoning or separate thermostat control. All units are CSA and UL listed to exceed the requirements of the National Electric Code (NEC) by using components to include primary and secondary limit protection, magnetic disconnecting contactors (24-volt control), a fan relay, and circuit fusing where required.
Duct heaters are designed for vertical or horizontal airflow in either direction, but most manufacturers offer units that are available for flange mount, round duct, bottom mount, and rain-tight installations.
There are two types of duct heater designs being used today:
For most simple space heating comfort heating applications, open coil models are the most cost-effective solution as they tend to have lower kW and are smaller in size than a finned tubular unit. The most important differentiator is that the open coil element releases its heat directly into the airstream, which allows the duct to heat up quicker.
Finned tubular models are typically used for applications that require a high kW output as finned tubular elements help to reduce watt density, which allows for more consistent air flow streams. Duct heaters that have finned tubular elements are typically made for outdoor use or in harsher environments. Elements that use stainless steel fins can withstand the external elements of outdoor usage and are widely used in commercial and industrial applications.
There are many different sizes and types of duct heaters, but every application is different, so there is no easy way to determine what your application may need without discussing the specifics. The way to start is by understanding the basics and then contacting an expert. Start with the items below, and we can help you fill in the rest of the blanks:
Electric duct heaters are an economical heating source that are easily integrated into new or existing HVAC systems as they are available in a variety of custom configurations. Contact us today, and we can help you select the correct heater for any application.
| DUCT | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 36 | 42 | 48 | |
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| Height | Width | Maximum KW - Standard Design | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | |
| 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 30 | |
| 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 35 | 40 | |
| 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 37 | 43 | 50 | |
| 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 45 | 52 | 60 | |
| 14 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 43 | 46 | 52 | 61 | 70 | |
| 16 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 40 | 43 | 46 | 50 | 53 | 60 | 70 | 80 | |
| 18 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 33 | 37 | 41 | 45 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 67 | 78 | 90 | |
| 20 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 33 | 37 | 41 | 45 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 66 | 75 | 87 | 100 | |
| 22 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 32 | 36 | 41 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 73 | 82 | 96 | 110 | |
A duct heater is an electric heating element installed directly within an HVAC duct system to warm air as it passes through the ductwork. The heater can serve as a primary heat source, supplemental heating system, or reheat component for temperature control applications. As air moves across the heating elements, heat is transferred into the airstream and distributed throughout the building. Duct heaters are commonly used to improve comfort, maintain temperature consistency, and support specialized HVAC requirements.
Open-coil duct heaters expose the heating elements directly to the airstream, allowing for rapid heat transfer and typically lower initial costs. They are often the preferred choice for standard comfort-heating applications where space and budget are important factors. Finned tubular duct heaters utilize fins to increase surface area and reduce watt density, providing more uniform heat transfer and greater durability in demanding environments. Finned tubular designs are often selected for higher-capacity systems, industrial applications, outdoor installations, and harsher operating conditions.
Duct heaters are widely used for space heating, primary heating systems, booster heating, emergency backup heat, multi-zone HVAC systems, variable air volume (VAV) systems, reheat applications, make-up air units, return air heating, and fan coil units. They can also provide supplemental heat for heat pumps, gas-fired equipment, and oil-fired systems. Their versatility makes them an effective solution for offices, schools, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other commercial or industrial buildings. Because they can be custom engineered, they can support both simple and highly complex HVAC designs.
Proper duct heater sizing requires evaluating several application-specific factors, including duct dimensions, airflow volume, voltage, phase, frequency, mounting configuration, desired temperature rise, and installation environment. Ceiling height, building insulation, occupancy requirements, and outdoor air percentages may also impact heater selection. Because every HVAC system has unique operating characteristics, duct heaters are typically custom engineered to match the performance requirements of the application. Working with a heating specialist helps ensure sufficient heating capacity without oversizing the equipment.
Yes. Electric duct heaters can be integrated into new HVAC installations or retrofitted into existing forced-air systems. They are available in slip-in, flanged, round duct, vertical airflow, horizontal airflow, bottom-mount, and weather-resistant configurations to accommodate a wide variety of system layouts. Their flexibility makes them ideal for HVAC upgrades, expansion projects, zoning modifications, and supplemental heating applications. By integrating directly into existing ductwork, duct heaters can often provide an effective heating solution without major building modifications.
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