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Ductwork Evaluation
The Equipment Is Only Half the System
A brand-new air conditioner connected to a leaking, sagging duct system delivers a fraction of what it is rated for. In Central Texas that is a common setup: the ducts live in an attic that spends the summer above 130 degrees, the flex duct was stretched thin when the house was built, and every joint was taped with something that let go a decade ago. The air conditioner does its job. The air just never arrives.
A duct inspection is how we find out. Our technician goes into the attic, traces every run from the plenum to the register, and looks for the things that quietly ruin comfort: joints that have pulled apart, runs crushed under stored boxes, kinks where the flex was bent too tight, missing insulation, a return that is too small for the system, and buildup that is cutting the airflow. We measure, we photograph, and we explain it to you in plain terms.
Then you get options with prices. Sometimes that is sealing, sometimes cleaning, sometimes replacing a single ruined run, and sometimes the honest answer is that the ducts are fine and the problem is the air handler or the thermostat. The quote is part of the Home Comfort Guarantee: accurate, written and honored for 72 hours.
- You see what we see Photos of the actual problems in your attic, so the recommendation is not something you have to take on faith.
- No stake in the answer If the ducts are sound, we say so. An inspection that always finds work is not an inspection.
- Options, ranked What to fix first, what can wait, and what it costs. You choose the pace.
Why Homeowners Call
Problems That Usually Trace Back to the Ducts
If your system runs fine but the house does not feel like it, start here.
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One or two rooms never get comfortable
The far bedroom, the bonus room over the garage. Often a run that is disconnected, kinked or too long for its size.
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Weak airflow at some vents
Hold your hand up. If one register barely moves the air and the next room is fine, the duct feeding it is leaking or crushed.
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Bills climbing while comfort drops
You are paying to cool the attic. Leaks on the supply side dump conditioned air into the hottest space in the house.
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Dust that will not quit
A return-side leak pulls attic dust and insulation fibers straight into the system, behind the filter.
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Whistling or rushing sounds
Air forcing through a gap or a return that is too small for the blower makes noise. It also strains the motor.
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You are about to replace the AC
Do not connect new equipment to unknown ducts. An inspection first tells you whether the ductwork can carry what the new system moves.
What We Check
Every Run, From Plenum to Register
It is a physical inspection in the attic, not a glance at the vents from the hallway.
- Connections and joints Where flex meets the plenum, the boots and the takeoffs. These are the places that pull apart as tape dries out and straps loosen.
- Routing and support Kinks, sags, sharp bends and runs pinned under attic storage. A flex duct bent 90 degrees loses a surprising share of its airflow.
- Insulation condition Torn or missing jacket insulation lets a 130-degree attic warm the air on its way to the room and sweat the duct in humid weather.
- Return sizing and filter fit An undersized return starves the blower. A filter slot with gaps lets dust go around the filter. Both are common in older homes.
- Airflow and static pressure Measurements that tell us whether the system is fighting its ductwork, and where the restriction is.
- Buildup and contamination Dust load, debris, signs of pests or moisture. If cleaning is warranted, we price it; if not, we say so.
How It Works
What to Expect From a Duct Inspection
Most inspections take about an hour, depending on the size of the house and the attic.
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Tell us what the house does
Which rooms are wrong, when it started, what changed. That narrows where we look first.
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We go into the attic
Every run gets traced and checked by hand. Problems get photographed where they sit.
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We measure
Airflow at the registers and static pressure at the equipment, so the diagnosis rests on numbers, not just a look.
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You get the findings and prices
What we found, what it is costing you, what fixing it involves. In writing, ranked, and with no pressure to do any of it today.
Current Specials
Save on the work your home needs most.
One Room Always Too Hot?
Book a duct inspection in Austin or San Antonio and find out why, with the answer in writing.
What Our Customers Say
Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers
★★★★★
Our 18 year old HVAC system finally gave out this past week, so we reached out to Radiant to see what could be done. They sent a tech out named Bryan the same day, and he did a great job looking over the entire HVAC system. He was friendly and helpful in explaining everything that he saw, and our options moving forward. We decided to replace the entire system, so we met with Jacob (same day thankfully) to find the best HVAC system for our needs. Jacob was friendly, professional, and did a great job explaining the different options on offer. Radiant was able to set-up next day install, which was much appreciated, because the temps were still going to be cold in the coming days.
The install team consisted of Carlos and Pablo, who were very courteous and professional, and were kind enough to answer any questions I had regarding the install. They did a great job installing our new HVAC system, and were tidy which is always appreciated! Before they left, they explained everything that had been done, and showed me photos of the work.
Our entire experience from start to finish was great. I appreciate that they send photos of who is coming to your home too. Friendly, kind, professional team members, and good work all the way around. Thanks Radiant!
The install team consisted of Carlos and Pablo, who were very courteous and professional, and were kind enough to answer any questions I had regarding the install. They did a great job installing our new HVAC system, and were tidy which is always appreciated! Before they left, they explained everything that had been done, and showed me photos of the work.
Our entire experience from start to finish was great. I appreciate that they send photos of who is coming to your home too. Friendly, kind, professional team members, and good work all the way around. Thanks Radiant!
★★★★★
This is the first time I’ve used radiant my neighbor recommended them…. I called them today and they set me up an appointment on the same day. I was totally shocked at that and the service call was only $39!!…. Highly recommend them Danielle showed up and he was a great guy and he put up with all my wishy-washiness and I had to hurry him because I was heading to church and he got caught in a lot of traffic getting here he even would’ve installed the part that broke but I Didn’t have the time tonight….. He was patient with me and just told me to call the office first thing in the morning and get a service call set up…. Thank you so much Radiant!!….
With another cold front coming in tomorrow now I just hope they can get me scheduled for a separate call tomorrow but I have a feeling they will. They are such a great company!!😊😊
With another cold front coming in tomorrow now I just hope they can get me scheduled for a separate call tomorrow but I have a feeling they will. They are such a great company!!😊😊
★★★★★
Alex performed the winter service on my unit. This business along with Alex, are very professional and upfront about everything. To be transparent, this is the maintenance included with the purchase of a unit from them. I was informed about everything to include pictures as proof. I was told that my unit is 100% and very clean and again pictures to prove it. I was reccomended this business by a friend and glad he did. The initial purchase experience was also amazing. I had contacted 5 other businesses to get quotes about a new unit as my upstairs unit failed. 2 were outrageous quotes and I am technically still waiting on the other 3. On every instance of getting a quote, I waited about 1 week. Luckily my house has two units but still, un acceptable especially during the summer. I guess they all had so much business they did not care for mine. When I called this business not only did they come out the same day, I had the new unit installed with in 48 hrs. Oh and let's not forget the quote they gave me was the lowest of all. I can say enough good things about this business. Keep up the great work.
Maintenance Membership
Join the Care Club
Home maintenance for $9.99 a month.
Care Club members get two HVAC tune-ups and a plumbing safety inspection every year, priority scheduling, no dispatch fees — ever — and 5% off every repair.
- Priority scheduling
- Seasonal HVAC tune-ups
- Annual safety inspection
- Exclusive member discounts
- Free dispatch on repairs
- No long-term contracts
Duct Inspection Questions
What does a duct inspection include?
A technician physically traces the duct system in the attic, checking every connection, the routing of each run, the insulation, the plenums and the return. We measure airflow at the registers and static pressure at the air handler, which tells us how hard the blower is working against the ductwork. Problems are photographed so you can see them without climbing the ladder. You get a written summary of what we found, what it is doing to your comfort and bills, and a price for each option to fix it. If the ducts are in good shape, that is the finding, and the visit ends there.
My AC is only a few years old. Could the ducts still be the problem?
Yes, and this is one of the most common situations we see. The ductwork in most homes is original to the house, so a system replaced in 2022 may be pushing air through ducts from 1998. Worse, the installer may have connected a higher-airflow system to ducts that were sized for the old one, and the extra pressure finds every weak joint. If a newer system has never delivered the comfort you expected, an inspection is the cheapest way to find out whether the equipment or the ducts are responsible. Either way, you will know before spending money on the wrong fix.
Do I need to be home, and do I need to clear the attic?
Someone needs to let us in and walk us through what the house is doing, but you do not need to hover. As for the attic, we can work around normal storage, and moving a few boxes to reach a run is part of the job. What helps is a clear path to the attic access and to the air handler. If you know a particular area is packed solid, mention it when you book so we allow time. Our technicians are background-checked and bonded, so you are comfortable letting them into every part of the house.
What happens after the inspection?
You get the findings and a written price for each recommended fix, and the price is honored for 72 hours under the Home Comfort Guarantee. There is no obligation to schedule anything. Common next steps are sealing the leaks we found, replacing a crushed or disconnected run, cleaning if buildup is significant, or enlarging a return that is starving the system. Some homeowners do everything at once. Others fix the worst run now and the rest at the next tune-up. We are fine with either.
*Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to dispatch fees. No cash value. Must present offer at time of service. Call for details.
