Ductwork Repair in Slidell, LA Stop Paying to Cool Your Attic
Leaky, crushed and sweating ducts waste cooling you already paid for. We find where the air is going, fix it, and only recommend cleaning when it will actually help.
- Licensed and insured
- EPA 608 certified
- All major brands
- Written price first
Your AC can be fine and still not cool
In a typical house, 20 to 30 percent of the air in the ducts leaks out through holes and loose connections. In Slidell, most of those ducts sit in an attic that passes 130°F in July. Every leak dumps cooled air into that heat.
Leaky ducts also pull hot, humid attic air back into the system. That makes the AC run longer and leaves the house feeling damp. A brand new system connected to bad ducts will still struggle.
Raised homes have a different problem. Ducts under the floor are exposed to damp air, pests and, after a storm, floodwater. Torn insulation down there makes the ducts sweat and drip.
Common duct problems in Slidell homes
| What you notice | Likely cause | How we fix it |
|---|---|---|
| One or two rooms never cool | Crushed, kinked or disconnected flex duct | Reroute or replace the run and support it properly |
| Water spots on ceilings near vents | Ducts sweating through torn or thin insulation | Seal and rewrap with properly rated insulation |
| High bills and long run times | Leaky joints and boots pulling in attic air | Seal joints with mastic and reconnect loose boots |
| Musty smell when the AC starts | Moisture and mold growth in ducts or the air handler | Find the moisture source first, then clean or replace |
| Whistling vents and weak airflow | Too few returns or undersized ducts | Add a return or resize the problem runs |
| Ducts under a raised home after a flood | Floodwater soaked insulation and liner | Replace the flooded sections, they cannot be cleaned |
Our duct repair process
Inspect and measure
We check the ducts we can reach and measure static pressure and airflow at the vents.
Walk you through it
We explain each problem we found and where it is, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Quote in writing
Repair options and prices are written out before any work starts.
Seal and repair
We seal joints with mastic, reconnect boots, replace damaged runs and support sagging duct.
Insulate
Attic supply ducts get rewrapped to current code. Most attic supply ducts call for R-8 insulation.
Test again
We measure airflow again so you can see the difference in numbers.
When duct cleaning helps, and when it does not
We will not sell you duct cleaning you do not need. The EPA has not found that routine duct cleaning prevents health problems. Dust on vent covers is normal and does not mean the ducts are dirty inside.
Cleaning does make sense in a few cases. Those include visible mold inside ducts, signs of rodents or insects, and heavy dust or debris after a renovation. Even then, we fix the moisture or leak that caused the problem, or it comes back.
Ducts soaked by floodwater are different. Wet insulation and duct liner cannot be cleaned back to safe condition and need to be replaced. Our emergency repair page covers what to do with flooded equipment.
The ducts you will find in Slidell homes
Flex duct
Round, insulated duct with a plastic jacket, used in most homes built since the 1980s. It works well when it is short and straight. It fails when it sags, kinks or gets stepped on in the attic.
Sheet metal duct
Rigid metal trunks and runs, common in older and larger homes. The metal lasts, but the seams and joints leak over time and the outside wrap breaks down.
Duct board
Rigid fiberglass board formed into rectangular trunks. Its foil facing tears and its tape lets go in attic heat. Damaged sections usually need replacement.
Underfloor ducts
Runs hung under raised houses in Olde Towne, Palm Lake and Old Mandeville. They face damp air, pests and floodwater, so their insulation needs regular checks.
Ducts are part of the whole system
Ductwork questions
How do I know if my ducts are leaking?
Common signs are rooms that never cool, high bills and long run times. A dusty house and humid air with the AC on are others. We confirm it by measuring static pressure and airflow, and by inspecting joints and boots in the attic.
Is duct cleaning worth it?
Usually not as routine maintenance. It is worth it when there is visible mold inside the ducts or signs of rodents or insects. Heavy debris after a renovation is another reason. We will tell you plainly whether your ducts need it.
Why are my ceiling vents dripping water?
Cold ducts and vents sweat when humid attic air reaches them through gaps or thin insulation. Sealing the leaks and rewrapping the ducts usually stops it. A clogged drain can also cause leaks, so we check both.
Can you repair ducts under a raised house?
Yes. We work on underfloor ducts in raised homes across Slidell, Old Mandeville and Olde Towne. We replace torn insulation, reseal joints and replace any sections damaged by water or pests.
Do flooded ducts need to be replaced?
In most cases, yes. Floodwater soaks insulation and duct liner with contaminants that cleaning cannot fully remove. Replacing the flooded sections is the safe fix.
Will fixing my ducts lower my energy bill?
Sealing leaks means less cooled air is lost to the attic, so the AC runs less to cool the house. How much you save depends on how leaky the ducts were. We measure before and after so you can see the change.
Do I need new ducts if I replace my AC?
Not always. If the existing ducts are the right size and in good shape, they can be sealed and reused. If they are undersized, crushed or leaking badly, fixing them first protects the new system.
Find out where your cooling is going
Call between 7am and 9pm, any day. We will inspect and measure your ducts, show you what we find and give you a written quote.
Duct work extends to raised homes in Olde Towne and Palm Lake, plus Covington, Mandeville and New Orleans. See all service areas.