Is Your Home Harboring Aging Ductwork? The Pros Can Determine That for You

February 21, 2014 - Published by Scott's Air

When the rooms in your home are either too warm or too cool, or the air feels stuffy in one room but just fine in the room right next door, it’s easy to think “it must be the air conditioner” or “it must be the furnace.” But many times, the cause is aging ductwork.

Since most ducts are hidden from sight, it’s easy to forget that they’re there. But the condition of your ducts is vital to your indoor comfort level. While the efficiency of ductwork in most homes hovers between only 60 and 75 percent, yours could be even lower if your home is more than 20 years old or if your home builder wasn’t exactly renowned for his dedication to quality construction. Consequently, the hard-earned money you’re spending to cool and heat your home could be spilling right out of your ductwork.

Only a professional heating and air conditioner contractor can (and should) be trusted to assess the condition of your ductwork. The process involves:

Inspecting the ducts’ seams, seals and joints – prime places for the ducts to leak – as well as deteriorating tape. (If your builder used duct tape, he was sorely remiss, as only the sturdier bond provided by mastic tape should be used on ductwork.)
Checking exposed ductwork in attics and crawl spaces – places that are subject to the greatest deterioration as the ducts flex and contract to adjust to changing temperatures. While all ducts should be insulated, it’s especially important that exposed ducts are insulated properly.
Investigating airflow problems, which are often caused by disconnected or collapsed sections of ductwork.
Conducting a duct blower test – similar to a blower door test – to determine how much air is being lost through the ductwork.

It may help to remember that like most components of a home, ductwork isn’t designed to last forever. So if you suspect your aging ductwork is putting a drain on your energy bills, be sure to give us a call at Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll help you find the source and recommend what can be done to keep your home comfortable in every room.

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Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!

Tags: air leaks, airflow, crawl spaces, ductwork

Categorised in: Ductwork

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UPDATE 12/11/25-
Mr. Scott, the owner took the time to speak with me the day before to take ownership of the unfortunate event, and to rectify it, he personally came over to speak to me and issued a refund for the blower motor replacement to honor me being a customer and purchasing the unit from them in recent times. This speaks a lot about his integrity and customer centric approach. Even though I didn’t hear from them initially for a few months, this was a great gesture in difficult times, and I appreciate this, therefore updating my review.

STAY AWAY!!!

I purchased a new AC system from Scott’s Air & Heat in 2022 for approximately $7,000. Since then, I have already spent over $1,500 on repairs in 2 years. Despite the system having a 10-year parts warranty, I was charged $650 for labor alone to replace a blower motor—a repair that took about one hour to complete. Another reputable company quoted $500 total, including both parts and labor, for the same job.

Additionally, I was charged $258 for the same issue just a week prior, and when the problem recurred, the company billed me again instead of honoring their previous service. Attempts to reach the owner or manager for a resolution went unanswered.

Overall, I found their pricing to be excessive and their customer service severely lacking. I would not recommend this company based on my experience.

Response from the owner:Hi, Thank you for taking Scott's call today & allowing us to make this right. We're looking forward to meeting you tomorrow with the hopes of being able to earn your 5-star rating. We genuinely care for our customers and their families and want you to be 100% satisfied. Thank you again.

Robin Preucil

It’s been a long process, but Scott did call personally to make sure that our ac unit was working properly. They even upgraded to the correct size unit we needed after many repairs and issues. I appreciate the follow through and transparent communication! They will make sure to follow up and help when needed. Thank you Scott and team!!!!

Response from the owner:Hi Robin, Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to make this right. We're happy to hear your system is running good now & we were able to turn your experience around. Thank you for trusting us with your home.

Karon Phillips

12/11/25

Same day update! I want to applaud Scott, the owner, for contacting me about my concerns regarding the labor charge for our last job. It was a disappointment that I had to have such an expensive charge on a relatively new unit. However, we talked about it, and he’s going to try to help. I appreciate any owner who listens to customers and wants to try to make things right. Thank you, Scott. I guess I don’t have to shop around for a new AC company for now.

12/11/25
Just to clarify. My response says that I’m frustrated to pay for labor for a warranty repair. I didn’t understand this was a warranty repair and I always am fine with paying for labor if a job is done. I believe my review explains my frustration with flat fees no matter how long the job takes.

10/8/25
Update today. The price that was quoted me was not only labor. They are charging flat fees for jobs. This is a change from the past with HVAC companies , but with more explanation and a little flexibility, I think we will stay with Scott’s for the time being. We’ll see how it goes. They still remain extremely responsive and professional and kind. This is worth something. They also come quickly when you have a problem.

This is a big change in my review for this company. Over the past five years things have changed. The company I used to trust I am now very skeptical of. They no longer charge labor by the hour so that you pay more for something that is more difficult and less for something that is less difficult. Just flat fees. And extremely high ones at that! Guess I’m looking for a new company now.

Response from the owner:Hi Karon, Thank you for trusting us with your home all these years. I can understand your frustration in having to pay labor for a warranty repair. The warranty from the manufacturer (not us) only covers the part itself. We value our customers and our community & want to make sure we take care of you and your home. We've left you a message & hope you'll return our call so we can make this right.

Mia Torres

Chelsie was absolutely amazing!! She was on time, super friendly and personable! She was knowledgeable and even took the time to explain the problem and solution with our ac. I highly recommend them to service your HVAC needs!