Leaky ducts, which are common in most homes, can increase your utility bills, cause your home to heat or cool unevenly, and can also decrease the air quality of your home.
If you’re noticing any of the above problems, you may be considering duct sealing, and are probably wondering how much it will cost.
The short answer is that in Texas, duct sealing costs about $500-$2000.
The long answer is that an accurate estimate requires an HVAC inspection of your ductwork. This is because the cost to seal your ducts is determined by several factors, including:
- The size of your home
- The complexity of the job
- The cost of materials
- The qualifications of the contractor you hire
If you’re ready to get an estimate to seal your leaky ductwork, contact Reliable Air. Schedule a Service
Now, let’s discuss how each factor affects how much you’ll pay to seal your leaky ducts...
Factor #1: The size of your home
The size of your house can affect how much you will pay to seal leaky ducts.
A larger home has more vents and ductwork to check and seal, which will cost you more.
Factor #2: The complexity of the job
The more complex and time-consuming the repair, the more you will pay to seal your ducts.
The following situations will add to the complexity of the job and increase your costs:
- Retrofitted ductwork may require drywall removal which will not only cost more in labor but will add the expense of drywall repair after the leaks are sealed.
- Manual repairs of hard-to-reach leaks will increase your sealing costs. For example: a technician who has to maneuver through a small crawl space to reach a leak will charge for more hours of labor.
- Repairing or replacing extremely leaky ducts. You will pay more for materials and labor if a technician has to cut into or replace extremely leaky ductwork.
Factor #3: The cost of materials
The cost to seal your ducts is affected by what type of material is used to seal the leak. Depending on the location, size, and type of leak you have, any of the following materials may be used:
- Mastic or mastic tape is the least expensive material used to seal duct joints or small holes in ductwork. While mastic is a low-cost material, it’s also applied manually, which means only visible and small leaks can be sealed via this method.
- Silicone caulking is an expensive sealant that is time-consuming to apply. Silicone is used to seal joints or connections at the unit.
- Aerosol is an expensive material for sealing leaks. Aerosol is a non-invasive pressurized sealant that fills tiny holes and cracks with a sticky vinyl polymer coating. It may be a good option for sealing hard-to reach leaks or retrofitted ducts without removing drywall or trampling insulation. In addition, aerosol sealant won’t fill holes over ⅝” and may not be appropriate in all cases.
- Sheet metal increases the amount you’ll pay for materials and labor. Sheet metal is used to repair large holes or extremely leaky ducts and requires the technician to cut into ducts, cut sheet metal to fit, and secure the replacement.
- Replacement ducts is the most expensive repair. When it is an option, sealing ducts is always cheaper than replacing them. However, an HVAC technician may recommend replacing extremely leaky ducts. Duct replacement costs range between $175 and $400 per run for labor and materials.
Factor #4: The qualifications of the contractor you hire
Typically, more experienced HVAC technicians charge more for duct sealing than techs that are inexperienced. While you will pay more for an experienced contractor, the extra cost is worth it.
A technician who charges less than local HVAC technicians is most likely inexperienced and could even be unlicensed. If you hire an inexperienced technician, you may pay more in additional repairs for unsatisfactory work.
To ensure quality repairs from an experienced HVAC technician, we recommend that you:
- Hire a licensed, bonded, and insured HVAC company
- Hire a contractor with positive Google and Yelp! reviews and a good BBB reputation
- Hire a contractor with 10+ years’ reputable service in your area
If you’re ready to hire a quality HVAC company to seal your leaky ducts, contact us. Schedule a Service
Reliable Air has over 20 years’ reputable service in the San Marcos area. When you call us, you get reliable same-day service that’s done right the first time and at a time that’s convenient for you.
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