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Before you hire anyone to replace your ductwork, know what you're actually paying for: what a free estimate gets you versus a paid inspection, what code-compliant installation requires in a Delray Beach home, and what it should cost. Done right the first time.
Delray Beach has two kinds of houses with ductwork problems, and they sit a few miles apart. East of Federal Highway, older beachside homes and condos run on duct systems installed decades ago — original runs that have lived through forty South Florida summers in a hot attic. West of I-95, newer subdivisions and larger family homes have bigger systems with longer runs and more zones. Different houses, same question: when the ducts are done, who do you trust to replace them, and how do you know the price is real?
Start with the question homeowners ask us most, because it decides everything else: what is the difference between a free estimate and a paid service-call inspection — and which one do you actually need?
A free estimate answers one question: what will this job cost, and what exactly is included? A technician comes to your home, gets in the attic, inspects the ductwork, measures the runs, and gives you a firm, written price for the work — the scope, the materials, the timeline. No obligation, no fee. If the job is a ductwork installation, the estimate is the whole plan in writing before you spend a dollar.
A paid service-call inspection is a different animal. It is a diagnostic visit, and it answers a different question: what is wrong, why is it happening, and which of several possible fixes is the right one? That makes sense when the problem is unclear — a system that cools unevenly, a mystery smell, a noise nobody can place. You are paying for diagnosis, not for a price on a job you already know you need.
Here is the practical rule. If you already know the ducts are shot — torn runs, rooms that never cool, a system old enough to vote — you do not need to pay someone to tell you that. You need a free estimate that scopes the replacement and prices it honestly. If you are not sure what is wrong at all, a diagnostic visit earns its fee by finding the real cause before anyone sells you a solution.
Watch out for the middle trap: a company that charges a service-call fee, then uses the visit to pressure you into a full replacement on the spot, or a "free estimate" that turns out to be a salesperson with no attic ladder. A real estimate means a tech in the attic, looking at your actual ductwork. Air Duct Specialists gives free estimates — a tech inspects your system, scopes the work, and quotes a firm price. What we quote is what you pay.
Ductwork does not fail all at once. It fails the way South Florida houses fail: slowly, in the heat, out of sight. The signs are consistent, and if you recognize more than one, the ducts are telling you something:
One sign alone might be a repair. Several together usually mean the system as a whole is done — and patching individual runs on a system that old is money spent twice.
"To code" gets thrown around a lot in this business. Here is what it actually means for ductwork in a Florida attic, and what to check before you hire anyone:
Proper insulation. Florida mechanical code requires R-6 or R-8 insulation on ducts in unconditioned spaces like attics. New work should be R-8 — the thicker insulation keeps the duct surface warm enough to resist condensation in a hot attic, which is exactly why old R-4 ductwork sweats.
Sealed joints. Every connection sealed with UL 181-listed mastic or tape — not duct tape, which dries out and fails in attic heat. Leaky joints are the single biggest source of wasted cooling in a duct system.
Supported runs. Ducts hung with straps at proper intervals, not draped across joists or left to sag. A sagging run kinks airflow and collects condensation at the low point.
Correct sizing. Ducts sized to match the equipment and the rooms they serve. Undersized runs starve rooms of air; oversized runs kill velocity and leave rooms stuffy.
Permits and inspection where required. Licensed work with a permit protects you twice: it proves the installation met code, and it protects your home's resale value. Unpermitted work is a liability that shows up at closing.
For most average homes, a full ductwork installation takes at most 1–2 days: old ducts out, new R-8 runs in, sealed, supported, and tested. Larger homes, multi-system homes, and high-rise units with restricted access can take longer — a contractor who promises one day for a five-system estate is guessing, not planning.
The timeline should be in writing before work starts, along with how your home is protected while the work happens — covered stairs and walkways, sealed work areas, and a crew that leaves the house the way they found it. That is not a bonus. It is part of a professional job.
Straight numbers. Full duct replacement is typically $3,500–$9,500 for an average smaller residential home, varying with home size, layout, and materials required. What moves a Delray Beach job inside — or beyond — that range is concrete: square footage, number of systems and runs, attic accessibility, whether old ducts need full removal, and whether custom metal transitions are needed.
That is why a phone quote for ductwork is worthless, and why we do not give one. A free on-site estimate — a tech in your attic, measuring your actual system — is the only honest way to price it. Same price for everyone, no hidden fees, no upselling, ever. Done right the first time.
Air Duct Specialists LLC serves Delray Beach and all of Palm Beach County. Licensed CAC1825166. Fully insured. Same-day service, 7am–11pm, 7 days a week. 350 five-star reviews. Done right the first time.
📞 (561) 331-6777 — Palm BeachWhat is the difference between a free estimate and a paid service-call inspection?
A free estimate tells you what a known job costs and what is included. A paid service-call inspection is a diagnostic visit that finds out what is wrong when the problem is unclear. If you already know the ducts need replacing, you need a free estimate, not a paid diagnosis. Air Duct Specialists gives free estimates.
How long does ductwork installation take in Delray Beach?
Most average homes take at most 1–2 days. Larger homes, multi-system homes, and high-rise units with restricted access can take longer. The timeline should be in writing before work starts.
What does a code-compliant ductwork installation require in Florida?
R-6 or R-8 insulation on attic ducts (new work should be R-8), joints sealed with UL 181-listed mastic or tape, proper supports, correct sizing for the equipment, and permits with inspection where required.
How do I know if my Delray Beach home needs new ductwork?
Ducts over 15–20 years old, torn or sagging runs, rooms that never cool evenly, rising energy bills, excess dust, sweating vents, or musty odors when the system runs. A free on-site estimate with an attic inspection gives you a straight answer for your home.
How much does ductwork installation cost in Delray Beach?
Full duct replacement is typically $3,500–$9,500 for an average smaller residential home, varying with home size, layout, and materials required. Larger homes and custom metal transitions fall outside that range. A free on-site estimate prices your actual job — what we quote is what you pay.
Do you handle permits for ductwork installation?
Yes. Where a permit and inspection are required, we handle that as part of the job. Licensed work with a permit proves the installation met code and protects your home's resale value.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — Air Duct Specialists LLC is a licensed Florida air conditioning contractor, license CAC1825166, and fully insured. You can verify the license through the Florida DBPR before any work begins.
