Air Duct Replacement in Houston, TX

Does the whole system need replacing, or just a few runs?

Often just a few. A branch pulled off a takeoff is a reconnect, not a replacement. What pushes a job to full replacement is the condition of the jacket and core. Torn outer jacket in a humid Houston attic means the insulation stays wet. Wet insulation compresses. Then the duct sweats and drips onto drywall. Sagging flex with dust settled in the low loops is the same story. You can see both from the attic hatch with a flashlight.

Ductboard plenums are the other trigger. In 1950s–70s houses the round galvanized trunks often outlive the plenum they hang off. Corroded or crumbling ductboard at the air handler gets rebuilt in sheet metal.

Replacement is also the moment to fix return air. Many Houston homes run one undersized central return. It whistles. Static pressure stays high and the blower works against it. Adding a return, or upsizing the grille, changes more than new flex alone will.

Pier-and-beam homes need a separate look. Panned-joist returns draw crawlspace air straight into the house. Sealing or replacing those matters more here than new supply runs.

Coil and drain pan get inspected at the same visit. Latent load here keeps them wet year-round.