Professional duct sealing in Salem, OR, can cost $500 to $4,000, with the average being $2,250, according to Angi. The total cost depends on the specifics of your project. However, whether you should invest in professional duct sealing shouldn’t be determined based on cost alone, as it can improve comfort, efficiency, and indoor air quality (IAQ) and save you money over time.
Since this type of HVAC improvement is often a significant expense, we’ll explore what goes into calculating the total price of sealing residential ductwork.
Factors That Determine the Cost of Duct Sealing
Your ductwork is unique to your home, HVAC system, and other factors. Air leakage can come from gaps, tears, or holes in the system and a contractor must consider many variables when fixing them. Leaks can allow conditioned air to escape. They can also expose your household to pollutants from cooking, cleaning, and various indoor activities as well as from traffic, smoke, and other outside sources.
If you have IAQ concerns, duct sealing can protect your family. Its cost may be influenced by the following:
- The Size of Your Home: The larger your home, the more ductwork it likely has running above ceilings, behind walls, and under floors. Larger and longer ducts are needed to distribute heated or cooled air evenly to each room.
On average, sealing ducts costs about $1 per square foot. However, the layout of your ductwork and other factors can shift this figure from $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.
- Accessibility of Ductwork: It would be simple if the cost of duct sealing was based on square footage alone, but it’s not. Your ductwork may have a different layout than a home of a similar size. A contractor must consider where air leaks are located and how accessible the affected ducts are. The length of individual ducts also matters.
Per linear foot, ducts accessible via the attic, basement, or crawlspace are less costly to seal than a leaky duct behind a wall. It’s more expensive to repair ducts in hard-to-reach locations like inside walls, under tile floors, and behind cabinets. If manual sealing is the only option, you’ll also have to pay for demolition and property repairs, plus increased labor for the extra time and effort needed to seal these ducts.
- How Much Leakage There Is: Sealing an easily accessible supply vent can cost around $50. However, it may cost $100+ to seal one duct leak behind a wall. The more leaks in the system and the larger the gaps that must be sealed manually, the more costly duct sealing can be.
- Ductwork Inspection: An inspection allows a technician to determine exactly where any leaks are. Nonetheless, it isn’t done for free. A contractor runs sophisticated cameras through your air ducts to identify leak points and their location, so the cost of equipment must be considered. The inspection process also helps them determine the best type of sealing to address the problem.
- The Sealing Method: Duct sealing in Salem, OR, can be performed in different ways. The solution may be as simple as applying heavy-duty tape to a small leak. Another way to seal ducts is to wrap them in an efficient insulating material. Severely damaged ducts may need to be repaired or replaced. All these methods require direct access to your ductwork.
An aerosolized sealant can be used for small holes and gaps. It does not require breaking through drywall or floor tiles. Ducts in hard-to-reach spots and unfinished basements, attics, or garages can be sealed remotely. In this case, the cost of duct sealing is the main expense. There are no costs incurred for breaking apart building materials, cleaning up, and restoring your home.
- Evaluation/Final Inspection: An initial inspection and post-sealing evaluation cost about $150 each. The contractor may also recommend pressure testing to verify your ducts are properly sealed. It can add $200 to $450 to the cost of the project. To test for leaks, a professional uses a duct fan to create negative pressure and takes measurements to determine if the ducts are sealed or if air is still leaking.
- Labor: The cost of duct sealing or any HVAC project can’t be fully examined without considering labor. A contractor’s labor charges can easily reach $1,900 for a $2,000 duct sealing project. This means if your system requires manual sealing, just 10% of the cost is for materials. However, that doesn’t mean trying to seal ductwork yourself is going to save you money.
Are There Ways to Reduce the Cost of Duct Sealing?
Most homeowners prefer not to spend thousands of dollars. However, the cost of duct sealing is worth it when you consider the potential energy savings. You can save on the project by choosing aerosol sealing whenever possible. Also, research incentives your state, municipality, or utility company may offer for having your ductwork sealed.
Another way to reduce costs is to schedule an inspection. It will reveal where the system is leaking so a professional can work more efficiently. And, while pressure testing is another expense, it confirms the system is fully sealed to help avoid future costs. Your local HVAC contractor may also offer a discount on add-on services like air duct cleaning, so you save by getting more done at once.
Why Should I Have My Air Ducts Sealed?
Duct leaks can cause a wide range of problems in your home. Having them professionally sealed can have the following benefits:
- Improve AC Performance: Much of the air cooled by your AC can be lost through leaky ducts, affecting temperature control and causing the unit to work harder. Sealing ductwork can reduce the number of repairs needed and increase the system’s life.
- Better Indoor Air Quality: A strained AC system can leave your home more humid, while moisture can enter from outside through spaces in ducts. Dust, mold, and pests can too. Duct sealing protects your home from a wide range of pollutants and can eliminate musty and other unwanted odors.
- Lower Energy Bills: Leaky ducts make it harder for your AC unit to regulate the temperature in your home. It may run longer to compensate, which increases energy usage. Therefore, properly sealed ducts can help lower your monthly utility bills.
Do I Need a Professional for Duct Sealing in Salem, OR?
Given that labor makes up most of the cost of duct sealing, it’s understandable you might want to go the DIY route. However, it’s not likely you have the equipment or materials to locate every leak and provide a good seal. Sealing air ducts can get complicated. By investing in professional work upfront, you can save on the cost of future service and losses in efficiency. A trained contractor will find every leak and properly seal it.
Call Air Stars for Professional Duct Sealing In Salem, OR
Our licensed HVAC technicians have extensive experience in duct sealing and insulation. Using the latest technologies, they can seal your ducts from the inside and minimize air leakage and heat loss/gain. To learn more about our ductwork and indoor air quality services, including air filter and air purifier installation, or to schedule an appointment, call (503) 809-5831 today.
