Relocating an Intrusive Air Duct

Q: I have a large, intrusive air duct along the ceiling of my basement and it’s posing a problem for me to finish the room into a living space. What are my options for relocating it?

A: You need the duct system to continue transferring an adequate amount of airflow to condition your home, which leaves you with three options. First, you can re-route the duct. Second, you can split the single large duct into smaller ducts and re-route them accordingly. Third, you can have the large boxy air duct replaced with a wider but flatter section of ductwork, which can sometimes provide several extra inches of headroom.