Seems to be a simple HVAC question, looking for confirmation

Good afternoon all! Looking for a good solution to a seemingly simple problem. I'd like to move some existing ductwork to eliminate some problems that the original builder encountered. However, where I'm confused is as to why the original builder of my home didn't do this "fix" in the first place. Right now, I've got some ductwork that travels across the basement ceiling between the floor joists above. When it reaches the end, it turns down below the joists and then back up to connect with the ductwork that travels throughout the house. (see crushededit.jpg) However, there are gas lines that the builder had to contend with. Instead of avoiding the gas lines, the builder flattened the ductwork down so that it fit underneath. I don't like that, it looks awful and is not a good solution. :( If I look at the other end of the ductwork, I see a possible solution (feedendedit.jpg). However, I don't know much about ducting to know if this is going to affect the flow of air to the rest of the house. I would move the existing ductwork to the open spaces which would provide a straight line from one end to the other, without having to travel below the joists. Hopefully, you'll see what I propose in the pictures I'm attaching. I've colour-coded my arrows so that you can see where each duct run is currently, and where it would end up in my proposed solution. My solution would stick the two feeds directly into a "Y split point" (don't know the technical term) so I don't know how that effects things. I'm hoping someone (preferably an HVAC "expert" :D ) can tell me if that is a workable solution that won't affect the downstream air flow. Thanks in advance, Andy EDIT: I guess asking for an expert may have scared people off. Please, any advice from anyone that has done some HVAC stuff in their builds would be welcome.

Anybody have any suggestions?

I see what you are going for, but what do you gain from this move? A visual pleasing view, or something specific?

Thanks for replying Brien. I would like to move this for two reasons. 1) Moving would allow me to move the ductwork up between the joists, which will allow a little more space to play with as I would like to add a secondary ceiling. Moving the duct up between eliminates the need for a chase completely. 2) It's a little difficult to see, but the builders actually crushed the left pipe (first pic) to allow it to squeeze under the gas lines. It's actually almost completely flat in a couple of spots. Thanks for looking! Andy

So it's not taped, not wrapped and flattened out. What is it anyway?

Sorry if I'm not being clear. I'm trying to address the deficiencies in the builder installed ductwork. I don't like the fact that the ductwork runs up between joist A and B (not labelled as such, just trying to clarify things), gets crushed down under the natural gas line, then travels under the joists to location C and D. Why didn't the builder run the ductwork from the position I propose, which will be a straight line from one side (the main duct line) to the other without having to pass under gas lines etc? Is it a question of will there be a loss of pressure if I tap into the main line right at a "T" intersection? As you mention, I plan on properly taping/wrapping/etc the ductwork once it is in the correct location. Hopefully, this will help with any questions you have.

You have never stated officially if it is hvac. You also mentioned a "Y" configuration...where is that in this mix? Looking at footendedit.jpg, to the very far right of the picture, is that where the trunk stops? One more thing...2 story home?

Again, I appreciate your questions. Hopefully, they'll help me learn how to post better questions. :D The house is indeed two story- one of the feeds has it's outlet on the main floor, and the other is feeding the 2nd floor. These pictures are in the basement where I'll be building my little control room and drum room. In feedendedit.jpg, the Y is right where the main duct line comes under the steel IBeam- if you look closely at the "low" section of ductwork, you'll see a seam where the Y happens. You can see the ductwork split off in two directions at that point. My proposal would move one of the ducts to the left side of the y, and the other to the right side. The trunk carries on another approx 13' in either direction from the Y. This is indeed a forced air furnace/air conditioner system- I hope that's what you wanted to know to answer the HVAC question. My plan is to use in-floor heating for the studio, and a separate air-con unit to feed the rooms in the summer. I would like to avoid using any existing ductwork in the studio area if possible. I'll be addressing these issues as well. I realize that I should probably bring in an HVAC specialist to accomplish most of this stuff- I was just trying to make a plan of attack for when the time comes. Thanks in advance for reading and responding! Andy

aw-ite. rather then making new penetrations, would you be able to simply reverse the duct setup? In crushededit.JPG we can see the duct that is being routed under the wood I-beams and then into the joist cavity, right? And in feedendedit.JPG the same ducts in question make a simple 90 degree turn down into the trunk, right? Would it be simple enough to make a 90 degree (coming down from where the duct penetrates the wall) then add your duct to this 90 degree in the newly aligned joist cavity. Once you reach the trunk with the duct, you would install a 90 degree and your duct to reach over to the existing penetration in the trunk. Then 90 back down to the existing duct mount. You wouldn't make any new penetrations, and you may not have to have any new material. Wadda ya think?

The ability to allow ductwork to run directly up into and between joist spaces rather than having to pass underneath the joist is a HUGE benefit for us basement dwellers. Like you mentioned, it would eliminate the need for a big bulky chase soffit. Kinda odd why they ran them like that in the first place. Definitely looks a little shoddy. I know in a perfect world you wouldn’t want duct connections at that juncture, or maybe they did that so the ducts could attach to standard top take-off connections on the main trunk. If you put them were you've shown it looks like you’ll have to use a normal take-off in order to extend them above the trunk up into the joist space before connecting a 90 degree elbow (which you have a few!) as it appears the trunk is lower than where they are currently. I’m definitely no expert, but I doubt that the ductwork was so perfectly planned out and balanced when it was installed that your proposed modifications would make a huge difference in pressure. To me, the fact that your re-route would actually lose a couple bends and hard turns in the duct would actually benefit pressure, possibly negating any concerns on the new locations in regards to the other branch of the trunk. If it were me, I would absolutely do it.