What does ductwork cost?
Duct work spans a wide range: targeted sealing and a few new transitions cost far less than a full replacement of an old, undersized system. Because typical homes lose 20–30% of conditioned air to leaky ducts, sealing and right-sizing frequently pays back faster than equipment upgrades alone.
Because scope varies so widely, a duct evaluation and a free, no-obligation written estimate are the only way to get a real figure — what drives it is how much is sealed versus modified versus fully replaced, your system size and the number of runs, and how accessible the ductwork is.
What drives the price?
Cost depends on:
- Scope — sealing vs. partial modification vs. full replacement
- System size and the number of runs/registers
- Accessibility — open basements/attics are easier than finished walls
- Custom fabrication — proper transitions and fittings (our Local 36 specialty)
- Whether it's paired with a new system install (often more efficient to do together)
How to avoid overpaying
Get a duct evaluation that identifies whether sealing/right-sizing will solve the problem before paying for full replacement, and make sure any new-system quote checks the ducts feeding it.
How Degenhardt prices it
As Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 specialists we fabricate custom ductwork to fit your home and evaluate sealing/sizing as part of any system design — fixing the airflow problems off-the-shelf installers skip.
Frequently asked questions
Sealing and minor right-sizing are far cheaper than full replacement and often resolve uneven temperatures and high bills. We evaluate first and recommend the least-invasive fix that actually solves the problem.
If the ducts are undersized or leaky, yes — pairing it with the equipment install is more efficient and ensures the new system performs. We check the ducts as part of every system design.