Duct replacement and new duct runs for New Orleans homes
When a duct system is past repair, replacing it fixes airflow, humidity and efficiency all at once. We design the new system from the house, not by copying the old one.
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Ductwork replacement in New Orleans is warranted when insulation has failed throughout, flex duct has deteriorated or collapsed, ducts took on floodwater, or the original layout was undersized. A replacement is sized from a room-by-room calculation, sealed at every joint with mastic, insulated for attic or crawl-space heat, and usually takes one to three days.
Repair or replace the ducts
Updated September 2026
Most duct problems can be repaired: a disconnected run, a crushed section, joints that need sealing. Replacement makes sense when the problems are everywhere at once, or when the system was never sized for the house in the first place.
A new duct system is also the moment to fix what the old one got wrong: too few returns, runs that are too long, or a layout that starves the upstairs.
What affects the cost of duct replacement
Duct replacement is priced on the size of the house and the access to it.
House size
More rooms and runs mean more material and labor.
Access
Low attics and tight crawl spaces take longer.
Design changes
Adding returns or rerouting trunks adds work.
Insulation level
Higher-rated insulation for hot attics costs more.
Removal
Hauling away old duct and insulation.
Testing
Static pressure and airflow testing after install.
What a duct replacement includes
- Room-by-room load calculation
- New trunk, branches and returns sized to the house
- Every joint sealed with mastic
- Insulation rated for the location
- Runs supported to prevent sagging
- Old ductwork removed
- Static pressure and airflow tested
Repair or replace your ducts
| Repair and seal | Full replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | Most runs are sound | Problems are widespread |
| Fixes sizing | No | Yes |
| Time | About a day | One to three days |
| Insulation | Patched where damaged | All new |
Full Duct Replacement
A full replacement removes the old supply and return ducts and installs a new system designed for the house: correctly sized trunks and branches, enough return air, and runs that are as short and straight as the building allows. Every joint is sealed with mastic, runs are supported so they do not sag, and insulation is rated for a hot attic or a damp crawl space. It is usually done in one to three days, and the difference in airflow is often immediate.
Adding Supply Runs
A room that never cools often has one small run at the end of a long trunk, or none at all if it was added later. Adding a properly sized supply run, and a return path so the air can get back to the system, is often enough. We check the system's capacity and static pressure first, because adding runs to an already overloaded system just spreads the problem around the house. In some houses the better answer is a return in the hot room rather than more supply, and we check for that too.
Duct Sizing
Duct sizing is the part most often done wrong. Ducts that are too small make the blower work harder and deliver less air; ducts that are too large move air too slowly to reach the far rooms. We calculate the load for each room and size each run to deliver it, then measure static pressure after installation to confirm the system is working as designed rather than assuming it is. A system with correctly sized ducts is quieter at the registers as well as more comfortable.
Older duct systems still in service
The Lakefront neighborhoods, including Lake Vista and Lake Terrace, sit on raised land that largely escaped the 2005 flooding, and most of their homes date from after World War II. Many never had the full mechanical replacement that flooded neighborhoods nearby went through, so original or much-patched duct systems are still common. Older raised houses elsewhere run ducts through crawl spaces, where damp air takes its toll on insulation.
How a duct replacement runs
- 1
Measure the house
Room-by-room load and existing duct layout recorded.
- 2
Design
New trunk, branch and return sizes worked out.
- 3
Quote
Scope and price in writing.
- 4
Remove old ducts
Old runs and insulation taken out.
- 5
Install and seal
New ducts installed, supported and sealed with mastic.
- 6
Test
Static pressure and room airflow measured.
Questions about Ductwork Replacement & New Duct Installation in New Orleans
Failing insulation throughout, collapsed flex, flood exposure, or rooms that never cool despite repairs.
Usually one to three days, depending on the house.
Yes. Many systems are fine and just need a better duct system.
Often, because air stops leaking into the attic and the system runs more efficiently.
If the ducts are in poor shape, yes. A new system on bad ducts underperforms.
Yes, and haul them away.
Insulation rated for attic heat or crawl-space moisture, depending on location.
Yes. Static pressure and room airflow are measured.
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