Ductwork is the most ignored part of a heating and cooling system and often the reason a perfectly good furnace or air conditioner underperforms. You can install the best equipment made and lose a large share of it to leaking, undersized or badly routed ducts.
Plumbing Pros repairs and installs ductwork across Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Wilson and the Lehigh Valley, and heating and cooling across Warren County, New Jersey.
Signs your ductwork is the problem, not the equipment
- One room never gets comfortable while the rest of the house is fine. Almost always a duct problem rather than an equipment problem, and no amount of new equipment fixes it.
- Weak airflow from some vents.
- Rooms furthest from the unit are the worst. Classic sign of undersized or leaking runs.
- Dust that keeps coming back however often you clean. Leaking return ducts pull dust in from attics, crawl spaces and wall cavities and blow it into the house.
- Bills higher than they should be for the equipment you have.
- Whistling or booming when the system starts, which is usually a static pressure problem.
- Ducts in an unconditioned attic or crawl space, which is where duct losses do the most damage in both seasons.
What we do
Assessment first. We measure static pressure and airflow rather than guessing. That tells us whether the system is fighting the ductwork, and it is the difference between a real diagnosis and a sales pitch for new ducts.
Sealing. Joints, seams and connections sealed properly with mastic rather than cloth duct tape, which dries out and lets go. This is usually the cheapest meaningful improvement available on an older system.
Repair and replacement of crushed, disconnected or corroded sections. Flexible duct that has been kinked or squashed behind stored boxes is extremely common and easy to fix.
Insulation on runs passing through unconditioned space.
Resizing and rerouting where the original layout was wrong. If a run was undersized from the day it went in, sealing it will not fix the room it serves.
New ductwork for additions, conversions and whole system replacements.
When new equipment needs new ducts
If you are replacing a furnace or air conditioner, this is the moment to have the ducts assessed, and it is why we assess them before quoting a replacement. Putting a correctly sized new system onto ductwork that cannot carry the airflow means paying for capacity you will never receive, and it is a common reason people are disappointed by an expensive new system.
Sometimes the honest answer is that the ducts are fine and need nothing. We would rather tell you that.
When ductwork is not the answer
If a room has no duct serving it at all, or getting one there means tearing into finished space, a ductless mini split is usually cheaper, faster and less invasive than extending the system. We will say so rather than sell you the bigger job.
Why us
- Master HVAC-R licence 9380, held by owner Salvatore Sciorta
- We measure before recommending. Static pressure and airflow, not a look in the attic
- 4.9 stars across 650 Google reviews
- BBB accredited, A plus rating since June 2024
Common questions
How much heating and cooling is lost through bad ductwork?
Enough to matter, particularly where ducts run through unconditioned attics or crawl spaces. We will not quote you a percentage from a brochure. We measure your system and tell you what we find.
Is duct sealing the same as duct cleaning?
No, and the distinction matters. Sealing fixes leaks and improves performance. Cleaning removes dust and debris. They solve different problems and cleaning will not fix a comfort or efficiency issue caused by leaks.
Can I just use duct tape?
Despite the name, no. It dries out and fails, often within a couple of years, usually in the least accessible spot. Mastic is what actually holds.
Will fixing ducts solve my one cold room?
Often, yes, if the cause is a leak, a crushed run or a disconnected section. If the run was undersized from the start, it needs resizing rather than sealing. The assessment tells us which.
Book a ductwork assessment
Call or text (610) 686-9490, or email info@plumbingprospa.com.
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Talk to a licensed technician today. Honest upfront pricing before any work starts, and financing available so a repair does not have to wait.
Master HVAC-R licensed. BBB Accredited A+. 4.9 stars from 650+ Easton and Lehigh Valley homeowners.