Ductwork

Hot and cold rooms, whistling vents, a basement that's warm while the bedrooms freeze, a furnace that sounds like a jet engine: these are often duct problems, not equipment problems. Undersized returns, crushed or disconnected runs, long flexible ducts and leaky joints all rob airflow before it reaches the rooms. Kelvin Heating & Cooling designs, repairs and modifies ductwork so the system you paid for can actually deliver.

Ductwork services

• Airflow diagnosis — we measure what's coming out of the registers and check static pressure to find where the system is choking.
• Return air upgrades — adding or enlarging returns is one of the most effective fixes for hot upper floors and noisy systems.
• New runs and relocations — for renovations, finished basements, additions and rooms that never had enough supply.
• Sealing and insulation — sealing joints with mastic or foil tape, and insulating ducts that pass through unheated spaces.
• Balancing dampers — so air can be split properly between floors as the seasons change.
• Zoning — motorized dampers and separate thermostats for homes with very different needs from floor to floor.

How we approach it

1. Find the problem. We look at the rooms, the registers, the returns and the duct layout before suggesting changes.
2. Fix the biggest restriction first. Often a single return or a crushed trunk line makes the largest difference.
3. Quote in writing. Each change is listed so you can do the work in stages if you prefer.
4. Re-test. After the work, we measure again so you know it made a difference.

Signs your ducts are the problem

Rooms far from the furnace that never get enough air, a system that roars when the blower starts, dust collecting around registers and big temperature differences between floors all point to ductwork rather than equipment. In many homes, fixing the ducts costs less than the new furnace someone else quoted.

Replacing equipment? That's the ideal time to correct the ducts too, whether that's a new furnace or a heat pump, which is more sensitive to airflow. Older ducts may also need a cleaning.

What affects the cost of ductwork

Ductwork pricing depends on access and scope. Sealing accessible joints and adding a balancing damper are modest jobs. Adding a return or a new run means cutting into floors, walls or bulkheads, and the cost rises with finished ceilings and longer distances. Replacing a trunk line or redesigning a section of the system is a larger project. Zoning adds dampers, a control panel and thermostats. We list each change separately so you can prioritize.

Ductwork questions

Where we offer ductwork

We provide ductwork for homeowners in Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh. See what to expect in your area: