How Much Does Ductwork Repair Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $200 - $2,100
The average ductwork repair cost is $660 and ranges between $200 and $2,100 depending on the type of repair and ducts.
Your home's ductwork repair cost will depend on several factors, including the repair type necessary, what materials your ducts are, where the problem is, and accessibility. Most ductwork repairs cost between $200 and $2,100, or around $660 on average. Explore all the details you should consider.
- Average
- $660
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $10,000
Ductwork Repair Cost Factors
Whether your home's ducts are aging, showing signs of bad ductwork, or experiencing damage or inefficiency, repairing them may be an excellent option over replacing them. The repair type, duct material, and location are the main cost factors.
Type of Repair
The type of repair your home's ductwork needs is the primary pricing factor.
Vent
A dented or otherwise compromised vent can allow too much or too little airflow, and adjustable vents may not operate correctly. Repairing or replacing damaged vents is pretty straightforward, and it costs between $100 and $300 per vent.
Leak
Vibrations, accidental bumping, corrosion, and age can all create leaky spots within the ductwork system. The cost to seal duct leaks of various types runs from $375 to $700, depending on accessibility and the scope of the work.
Hole
Discovering that your ducts have a hole or two in them is common, especially in flexible duct types. Movement, vibrations, vermin, and corrosion can all create holes, both large and small. Repair costs hover between $150 and $400.
Rust or Corrosion
Water and condensation can cause rust or corrosion in your home's ductwork While the cost to repair this type of damage is between $200 and $500, the condition is often a sign of a bigger ventilation problem that could incur much higher costs.
Condensation
Condensation can lead to mold or mildew problems. If your ductwork is experiencing condensation inside or out, it's likely time to have your HVAC technician examine why it's happening. Often, repairs for the condition cost between $200 and $900. However, there may be more issues to contend with than the immediate problem.
Loose
Vibrations in the HVAC system and accidental damage can knock pieces of your home's ductwork loose, creating leaks or parts that simply don't work anymore. Repairing the situation costs about $100 to $450.
Damage or Collapse
Collapse damage results from ductwork being struck by something. However, flexible ductwork can collapse due to age and wear. Depending on the severity of the damage, expect costs of between $150 and $2,000 to put it all back together.
Clog
Dirty air filters or debris is another common duct problem. Removing clogs costs $200 to $600, which includes your duct pro locating the blockage.
Mold
Hiring a local indoor air quality tester can identify mold in your home's air. Often, mold may also be present in the ductwork system. If that's the case, expect mold remediation costs of between $1,125 and $3,345 to get things back to normal, safe levels.
Infestation
Critters within and around your home's HVAC ductwork can cause all kinds of damage. Additionally, they have to go to the bathroom somewhere. If that somewhere is in the HVAC system, your home's air quality could suffer. Rodent extermination costs between $175 and $615.
| Repair Type | Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Vent | $100–$300 |
| Leak sealing | $375–$700 |
| Hole | $15–$400 |
| Rust or corrosion | $200–$500 |
| Condensation | $200–$900 |
| Loose | $100–$450 |
| Damage or collapse | $150–$2,000 |
| Clog | $200–$600 |
| Mold | $1,125–$3,345 |
| Infestation | $175–$615 |
Type of Ductwork
While several types of ductwork materials, shapes, and sizes exist, they fall into three categories: rigid, flexible, and flexible ducts wrapped in various types of insulation. Repair costs vary for each of the three types.
Rigid
Despite its rigid nature, aluminum and steel solid-type ductwork is prone to several types of damage. Vibrations, bumping, and corrosion top the list of culprits, which can cause leaks, looseness, collapse, and corrosion. Repair costs for rigid ductwork range between $300 and $2,100, depending on the type of damage and its extent.
Flexible
Flexible ductwork is common in modern homes and is excellent for routing through tight spaces. Unfortunately, that routing ability can also complicate repair work due to access issues. Subject to similar types of damage as rigid ducts experience, repair costs average from $100 to $800.
Insulated Flexible
Some flexible ductwork is insulated with various insulation types. Rodents seem to enjoy nibbling these types of materials in particular. However, insulated flexible ducts can also experience the same types of damage as other duct types and cost between $200 and $1,200 to repair.
| Material | Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Rigid | $300–$2,100 |
| Flexible | $100–$800 |
| Insulated flexible | $200–$1,200 |
Project Size
While the size of your house doesn't directly factor into the cost of duct repair, the length of the ductwork involved in repairs does. Expect to spend between $5 and $45 per linear foot for repair work, depending on the type of ductwork being fixed, the repair work necessary, and the duct's location within the home.
Ductwork Location
Much of the labor cost associated with ductwork repair is time-dependent. For this reason, ducts that are hard to reach or located within walls or underneath structures cost more to repair than easily accessible exposed ducts. Where the ductwork is in the home matters when it comes to repair pricing.
Basement
Duct repairs in basements can be really simple or quite challenging. The difference is whether or not the basement is finished and how easy it is to access the ductwork. For those reasons, costs for basement duct repairs can range from $200 to $3,000.
Attic
Repairing ductwork in an unfinished attic is the easiest place to do the work. Because most attic ducts are easy to reach without too much effort, the repair costs tend to average on the low end of the pricing scale. Expect to pay between $200 and $1,500 for the work.
Crawl Space
Because access can be an issue when repairing ductwork within a home's crawl space, the task can get expensive. Easily accessible crawl spaces can experience low repair costs while working in difficult areas can raise the price. Crawl space duct repair costs anywhere from $300 to $2,500.
Under House
Ductwork underneath the house features relatively easy access. However, the height of the access space can be problematic and increase the cost of repairs. Expect to pay between $300 and $2,000 for under-house duct repairs.
In Walls and Floors
Most homes taller than a single story feature at least some lengths of ductwork located within walls or floors. Access is almost always an issue when trying to reach these ducts, and often, making holes will require repair afterward.
Additionally, diagnosing and finding the trouble spots can greatly increase the time it takes to complete the work, driving up the price of the job. Expect to pay between $400 and $3.500 on average for repair work. However, the price could be much higher in particularly difficult situations.
Mobile Home
Most mobile home ductwork is relatively accessible. However, many mobile homes feature exterior ducts wrapped in insulation, which could slow down the diagnosis and problem location processes. Mobile home ductwork repair falls between $200 and $1,800.
| Ductwork Location | Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Basement | $200–$3,000 |
| Attic | $200–$1,500 |
| Crawl space | $300–$2,500 |
| Under house | $300–$2,000 |
| Walls and floors | $400–$3,500 |
| Mobile home | $200–$1,800 |
Maintenance Plans
While not part of actual ductwork repair costs, many homeowners choose to hire a professional for annual HVAC inspections and maintenance to avoid or minimize emergency repair work. The cost of HVAC maintenance is between $175 and $350 and can happen once or twice per year depending on how much your home relies on the system.
Labor
The cost of labor will be part of your price estimate and invoice for ductwork repair. The hourly rate for HVAC repairs is between $50 and $100.
Wall and Floor Repair
Often, ductwork repair involves creating holes for access in walls, ceilings, or floors. While the prices for these repairs vary widely, mostly depending on volume, wall repairs cost between $300 and $925, on average, while floor repair costs average between $205 and $635.
Additional Repairs or Services
While your ductwork is undergoing necessary fixes, it may also be a good time to consider upgrading your duct system by insulating it for added energy efficiency. Additionally, performing any HVAC repairs at the same time may result in some money savings, as the technician will already be on site.
Duct insulation cost: $1,000 – $2,700
Damper motor replacement cost: $250 – $450
Filter change cost: $10 – $50
Crawl Space Encapsulation
If your home's ductwork is located in its crawl space and is suffering from water or condensation damage, such as rust or corrosion, encapsulating your crawl space can eliminate the problem. While not an inexpensive option, it can minimize all kinds of potential problems for the HVAC system and your home's structure.
Crawl space encapsulation cost: $5,000 – $15,000
Ductwork Repair vs. Replace
In most cases, repairing existing ductwork is less costly than replacing the entire system. However, when a section sustains significant damage, replacing just that part is often worthwhile. The cost to replace ductwork averages between $1,400 and $5,600, while repair costs about $2,100.
On the other hand, if your current duct system is over 20 years old and requires frequent repair, it's likely more cost-effective to simply replace it instead of continuing to pay to fight it.
DIY Ductwork Repair vs. Hiring a Pro
In most cases, in most municipalities, it's unlawful to perform more than very basic work and filter changes within your home's HVAC system. Additionally, hiring a nearby duct installation pro to do repair work ensures the use of the correct sealants and fasteners to avoid future and additional problems.
Ways You Can Save Money While Repairing Ductwork
When your ductwork needs repair, there are a few tricks to help control prices.
Clear the area around where the technician will be working. Doing so can minimize the time it takes to access the ductwork in need of repair, perhaps lowering your invoice amount.
In many cases of damaged vent covers only, you may be able to simply pick up a new one at a home center retailer and replace it yourself.
Having a pro perform annual maintenance on your system can greatly reduce surprise duct repair situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are no real ways to tell that it's absolutely time to replace all of the ductwork in your home. However, there are several signs to watch for. Higher energy bills can indicate a severe loss of conditioned air and is a good sign that either replacement or serious repair needs to happen. Additionally, noticing multiple areas of corrosion or loose connections can also indicate major work is necessary.
Rigid ductwork can last up to around 25 years with excellent maintenance. However, things like vibrations in the home and system can mean there will be necessary repair work along the way. Flexible ductwork, on the other hand, has a much shorter life expectancy of between 10 and 15 years, with some types reaching 20 years before replacement is imminent.