Duct sealing costs averages $2,250, but can increase depending on your home size and sealing method.
Duct sealing costs $2,250 on average, and the typical cost range is between $500 and $4,000. The HVAC ducts that run behind your walls, above your ceiling, and under your floors help deliver heated and cooled air throughout your home. Inevitably, the building materials will break down over time, causing your energy efficiency to plummet and reducing comfort in your living space.
Luckily, you can seal your ducts to restore efficiency, decrease your energy bills, reduce strain on your HVAC system, and make your home more comfortable. In this guide, we’ll discuss how much duct sealing costs, the cost factors that can influence your total, and how you can save money on this project.
The typical cost range to seal HVAC ducts is so large because there are a variety of cost factors that influence the total.
The size of your home dictates how much ductwork you have running through the space, with larger homes requiring more ducts to distribute conditioned air evenly. The larger your home is, the more you’ll spend on duct sealing.
The average cost per square foot for duct sealing is around $1, but this number varies wildly depending on how your duct system is laid out and other factors. Expect to pay somewhere between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot for duct sealing.
The two methods of duct sealing are manual, which costs $2,250, and aerosol, which costs $1,300. Manual duct sealing fixes large holes and gaps in the ductwork. Aerosol sealing involves spraying a sealant into the system to adhere to the ductwork. It won’t patch large holes, but can seal minor leaks
HVAC ductwork is hidden behind walls, under floors, and above ceilings, with the only easily accessible points being the vents and air returns. The less accessible your ducts are, the more expensive it will be to find them and seal them.
Larger gaps in your ducts will require manual sealing, which is more expensive in most cases, but the number of leaks will play a more significant role in your AC duct sealing costs. You might spend around $50 per accessible supply vent that needs sealing or $50 to $100+ per leak behind walls, under floors, or in the attic. Additional leaks throughout your system will drive up the total.
Many people want to confirm that their air ducts are in tip-top shape after having a professional come in to seal them, so they may order a pressure test. This test usually involves creating negative pressure inside the system using a duct fan and then testing for leaks. An HVAC duct pressure test will usually cost you between $200 and $450, or around $300 on average.
An HVAC duct inspection costs around $150 on average, and it can help your professional determine exactly where leaks are occurring and how extensive the leaking is. An inspection may or may not be required by your expert before starting the sealing work, as it can help identify which type of sealing is appropriate and where the problem areas in your system lie.
Depending on where you live, you might be eligible for energy efficiency rebates, tax credits, or other incentives for carrying out HVAC duct sealing. These can effectively bring down your duct sealing costs by hundreds of dollars, so they’re worth looking into. You can usually find information on energy efficiency rebates on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE).
Your duct sealing professional will usually quote you based on the size of your system, the extent of the leaking, and the accessibility of the ducts, but people usually find it more helpful to get estimated duct sealing costs based on home square footage. You can expect to pay between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot, or an average of around $1.
| Home Square Footage | Duct Sealing Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $500 – $1,500 |
| 1,500 | $750 – $2,250 |
| 2,000 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| 2,500 | $1,250 – $3,750 |
| 3,000 | $1,500 – $4,500 |
Keep in mind that these numbers vary quite a lot, as home size is not directly correlated to duct length or layout.
Labor makes up the majority of the cost to seal HVAC ducts, with around 90% of the average $2,000 duct sealing total going toward labor and just 10% going toward materials for manual sealing. That means you could save upwards of $1,900 on the project if you do the work yourself.
However, it’s usually best to leave duct sealing to a professional. Not only is it difficult to locate leaks without professional equipment, but failing to get a good seal over all leaking sections of your ducts might still leave you with leaks and a loss of efficiency.
Even though duct sealing can get expensive, it’s usually worth the investment, and we recommend leaving the work to a duct installer near you. Hiring a reputable company will ensure you get a duct inspection beforehand, all of the leaks addressed, and a pressure test afterward to make sure your system is running like new again.
There are a few ways you can cut costs on duct sealing, including:
Inspections: A duct inspection will identify your leaks and the most cost-effective way to fix them.
Pressure test: A post-sealing pressure test will confirm that your ducts are fully sealed, which will save you more on heating and cooling bills over time.
Use aerosol sealing: If your system only has minor leaks, you can save around $1,000 by choosing aerosol sealing over manual sealing.
Find incentives: Your state, municipality, or utility company may offer rebates or other incentives for duct sealing costs. Make sure you check before you pay out of pocket for the work.
Opt for add-on services: Duct add-on services will cost less if you bundle. For example, air duct cleaning costs might go down by a few hundred dollars if it’s done while your tech is already on site.
It’s definitely worth it to seal your HVAC ducts if you have leaks. A leaking duct will let conditioned air seep into the voids between your living space and the exterior, which means that energy is mostly wasted. Not only will sealing your ducts result in lower energy bills, which can pay for the sealing entirely, but it also reduces wear and tear on your AC and furnace. Over time, you could save money on maintenance and repairs. It’s not all financial benefit, either: Duct sealing improves comfort in your living space, adding to the value of the work.
Duct sealing takes between two and eight hours, in most cases, depending on the size of your house, how accessible your ductwork and vents are, and what other services—like inspections and pressure tests—your professional carries out. For most homes, an HVAC tech will take around four hours to seal all of the leaks. You should plan on being home for the entire process, as the tech will need access to all parts of your living space.
There are a few things that you can look out for that indicate that you need duct sealing, but the two most critical ones are less comfortable air in your living space and increased utility bills. If you notice that you’re paying more often for HVAC servicing and maintenance, that could suggest that you need duct sealing, as well, as leaks put added strain on your system. You may also notice musty odors in parts of your home, as leaks can lead to condensation on your air ducts that can promote mold growth behind your walls.
