How much does ductwork repair cost?

How much does ductwork repair cost?

Fixr's national cost guide puts the average ductwork repair at $200 to $1,000, and says most homeowners pay $600 to fix and seal a leaky section. Ask the seller for the repair your report names, priced on a heating and cooling contractor's written bid. Replacing every duct is a bigger job: Fixr puts new ducts at $3,000 to $6,000 nationally, and removing the old ones can cost extra.

Key takeaways

• The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) gives ducting 60 to 100 years as a general guideline only. Condition, not age, drives the ask: a disconnected or damaged duct is still worth a bid.
• For sweating ducts in an attic or crawl space, ask for insulation rated R-6 or higher, the level ENERGY STAR lists for a duct job.
• If the house has a gas furnace or water heater, put a combustion safety test in your request. ENERGY STAR lists it as the step after sealing.

What does each duct repair cost?

The price depends on the job, so match the row to the exact wording in your report.

Kept prices every line of an inspection report for $79, usually under 4 hours, and marks the ones that need a professional quote.

Fixr's prices by duct problem assume a standard 1,500 sq ft home. It says sealing costs less if only a small section or one or two main ducts need it.

Say the report finds a supply duct disconnected in the attic, and the attic ducts uninsulated and sweating. On Fixr's rows, reattaching the section is $100 to $500 and insulating the ductwork is $1,000 to $2,500. That is $1,100 to $3,000. The contractor's written bid replaces both ranges with one number.

What is disconnected ductwork?

A disconnected duct has come apart at a joint or a vent, so air meant for a room leaks out. ENERGY STAR says the connections at vents and registers are common places to find leaks and disconnected ductwork. In a typical house, it says about 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through the ducts is lost to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. You pay for that in higher bills and rooms that are hard to heat or cool.

The fix is to refasten and secure the loose part. Fixr adds that mastic sealant or aluminum tape may fix loose sections or joints. ENERGY STAR says never to use duct tape, because it doesn't last. Crushed or tangled flexible duct gets straightened out as part of the same job.

How do you fix sweating ductwork?

To fix sweating ductwork, find the cause first. Water dripping from ducts can be condensation, and Fixr names three causes: clogs and blockages, a lack of insulation, and dirty filters. The fix follows the cause: clean the filters, clear the clog, or add insulation, and the price depends on which.

For ducts in attics, crawlspaces and garages, ENERGY STAR calls for duct insulation rated R-6 or higher. Fixr says insulating exposed ducts may be optional in milder climates, but recommends it in many homes because it prevents condensation.

If the report mentions old wrap or tape on the ducts, read asbestos duct wrap on an inspection report before anyone cuts into it.

Is a ductwork finding serious?

Leaky ductwork is serious for your energy bill: ENERGY STAR says leaky ducts can cut heating and cooling efficiency by as much as 20 percent.

The safety question is gas appliances. Furnaces, water heaters and dryers vent combustion gases like carbon monoxide, and ENERGY STAR warns that leaky ductwork "may cause 'backdrafting,' where these gases are drawn back into the living space, rather than expelled to the outdoors." It adds that sealing leaks can minimize this risk.

If your report pairs a duct finding with a gas furnace or water heater, have a licensed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor look before your deadline. If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house, then call the gas utility or 911, then the contractor.

What should you ask the seller for?

Ask the seller for the repair on a written bid from an HVAC contractor. ENERGY STAR says most heating and cooling equipment contractors also repair ductwork. How to get repair estimates during the inspection period covers booking a visit inside your window.

Ask that the bid cover the work ENERGY STAR lists for a duct job:

• Repair damaged and disconnected ducts, and straighten crushed or tangled flexible ducts.
• Seal leaks and connections with mastic, metal tape or an aerosol sealant, and seal registers to the ducts.
• Insulate ducts in attics, crawlspaces and garages.
• If the house has gas or oil appliances, check for backdrafting and run a combustion safety test after sealing.

Your request line names the scope, the trade and the bid, such as reattach the attic supply duct and insulate the attic ducts, HVAC contractor, per the attached written bid. If the seller does the work, ask for the contractor's paid invoice before closing.

What to ask for after a home inspection covers how this line sits with the rest of your list. The buyer repair request letter template gives the wording around it.

What if the seller says no?

If the seller says no to the repair, ask for a credit or a price cut equal to the bid. If the bid shows full replacement and the numbers stop working, when to walk away after a home inspection walks through that call. Your contract sets the deadline and your right to cancel, so confirm both with your agent or attorney.

Should old ductwork be replaced?

Fixr suggests replacing ducts that are old and keep causing problems. InterNACHI's life expectancy chart puts ducting at 60 to 100 years, as a general guideline only. The table's replacement row is one Florida contractor's range for replacing old ductwork. HVAC inspection before buying covers the furnace and air conditioner the ducts serve.

How do I know what the rest of my report is worth?

To know what the rest of your report is worth, price each line the way you priced the ducts: scope, trade, figure. Lines that need a contractor wait for a bid, and the rest you can price now. Heating and cooling findings on an inspection report covers the other HVAC lines your inspector may have flagged.

If the ducts are one line on a long report, upload your inspection report to Kept and spend your remaining days on the contractor's visit.

Sources

• Fixr, Cost to Repair Ductwork
• Cunningham Oil, How Much Should HVAC Ductwork Cost?
• ENERGY STAR, Duct Sealing
• ENERGY STAR, Benefits of Duct Sealing
• ENERGY STAR, Hire a Professional Contractor for Duct Improvement Projects
• InterNACHI, Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes