Whole-home duct cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning
Camera inspection
Sanitizing & deodorizingWhole-system duct and dryer vent check with before-and-after photos - you see exactly what came out of your vents
That "$99 whole-house special" is a bait ad - the real number appears once they are in your hallway, or the "clean" is a shop-vac at the register. We photograph the inside of your ducts before and after instead.
Trusted Air Duct Repair for Columbia Homeowners
Duct problems in Columbia usually announce themselves sideways. A room that never cools the way the rest of the house does. A whistling at the vent when the system kicks on. Dust settling on furniture faster than it should. These are the small, easy-to-ignore clues that a joint has pulled apart, a run has crushed, or the trunk line has been leaking conditioned air into your attic for a while. Our technicians have up to 11 years of experience tracing that kind of loss back to the actual gap, and we fix ducts in-house rather than handing you off to a second contractor. We use Rotobrush contact-cleaning and Nikro negative-pressure equipment, the same professional-grade tools found in commercial and restoration work. Call (866) 942-9804 to set up a free estimate, and same-day appointments are often available.
HVAC Duct Installation
HVAC Duct Installation is the work of running a new duct system – supply, return, trunk lines and all the connections between them – when a home doesn’t have one or the layout needs to be rebuilt from scratch. It comes up most often after a major remodel, an addition that the existing system can’t reach, or a conversion from window units to central air. At Hartwell Air Duct Cleaning, we design the runs around how the rooms actually heat and cool, then install and seal them as one job so airflow is balanced from day one. Because every home is different, we don’t quote a flat figure – the written estimate sets the final price. A typical whole-home HVAC duct installation in Columbia is estimated in the range of roughly $2,400 to $6,500 depending on the number of runs, the ceiling or attic configuration, and how much of the old system stays in place.
Designing Runs for Real Airflow
Duct size and run length decide whether a room gets the air the system produces. We size supply and return branches to the load each room carries rather than copying a generic layout. That keeps the far bedrooms from starving when the near rooms are comfortable.
Sealing At Every Connection
New ductwork is only as good as its joints. We seal the boots, collars and trunk taps as part of the install instead of leaving them to leak into an unconditioned attic. Proper sealing is what keeps the investment from quietly eroding in the first season.
Styles & brands we work with
- Whole-home duct cleaning
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Camera inspection
- Sanitizing & deodorizing
Air Duct Replacement
Air Duct Replacement means removing the existing duct system and putting a new one in its place, which is the right answer when the old ducts are past sealing or patching. That usually means flex duct that has collapsed, duct board that has absorbed moisture and lost its shape, or a layout that was undersized for the equipment from the beginning. We handle this as an in-house service, which means you don’t coordinate a cleaner and a general contractor on separate visits. Replacing ductwork removes the damaged material entirely rather than covering it, and that’s the point of source removal. Estimated Air Duct Replacement in Columbia generally falls in the range of about $1,800 to $5,400 for a whole-home system, depending on accessibility and the type of duct being installed. The written estimate fixed before work starts is what you pay.
When Repair Stops Making Sense
There is a line where patching costs more than starting over. When a run has multiple failures or the material itself is degraded throughout, replacement is the honest answer. We’ll tell you which side of that line your ducts are on.
Choosing the Right Duct Type
Flex, rigid metal and duct board each behave differently in a South Carolina attic. We match the material to the space and the run length so it holds up through hot summers. The choice matters as much as the installation quality.
Ductwork Repair
Ductwork Repair covers the structural fixes that restore a duct system without replacing it: resealing separated joints, reconnecting a run that has pulled loose from its boot, re-taping and mastic-sealing leaks at the trunk, and patching holes or tears in the duct wall. It’s the right call when the duct material is still sound but the connections have failed, which is the most common thing we find in Columbia homes. Most repair visits begin with a visual inspection of the accessible runs and a check of airflow at the registers, then we seal what’s leaking and confirm the pressure readings look right. Ductwork Repair in Columbia is typically estimated between about $250 and $900 depending on how many leaks we find and how hard they are to reach. That’s a per-job figure, agreed before we start – never a per-vent charge.
Sealing Leaks the Right Way
Duct tape fails. Within a few cooling seasons the adhesive gives up and the joint separates again. We use mastic and proper mechanical fastening at the leak, which is a repair that lasts.
Restoring Crushed or Disconnected Runs
A flex run that got stepped on in the attic loses most of its capacity. We re-stretch or replace that section so the room behind it gets the air it was designed for. It’s often the fix that solves a stubborn hot-room complaint.
Duct Replacement
Duct Replacement focuses on the sections of duct that have failed rather than the whole system – a single collapsed run, a trunk section that’s saturated, or a branch that was never sized correctly. It’s more targeted than full Air Duct Replacement and usually the better value when the rest of the system is in good shape. We isolate the failed section, remove it, and install a matching piece that seals properly into the trunk. Duct Replacement of a section is typically estimated in Columbia around $350 to $1,200, depending on the length involved and how much attic work it takes to reach it. You’ll see the figure in writing before we touch anything, and that figure is what the invoice reflects.
Sectional Work vs. Whole-System Work
Not every problem needs a tear-out. When one run is the culprit, replacing that run fixes the room without disturbing ducts that are still doing their job. We only recommend more than the problem requires.
Matching New Duct to the Existing System
A replacement section has to move the same volume as the run it replaces. We measure the existing branch and match the new piece to it. A mismatched section can throw off the balance of the whole system.
Ductwork Installation
Ductwork Installation is the addition of new duct runs to an existing system – extending supply or return branches to a new room, adding a dedicated return, or running a fresh trunk to reach an area the original install missed. Homeowners in Columbia call about it most often after an addition, a garage conversion, or a sunroom that never gets comfortable. We survey the space and the existing system first, then install sealed runs that tie into the trunk without disrupting the pressure balance of the rooms already served. Ductwork Installation for a single new run is typically estimated from about $450 to $1,400 in Columbia, and larger multi-run projects are quoted per job once we’ve seen the layout. The written estimate sets the final price.
Extending Service to New Space
An addition that goes without conditioned air stays unusable through the summer. We run a sealed supply and return to that new space so it’s part of the system rather than an afterthought. The result is a room you can actually use in July.
Adding Returns for Better Balance
Homes with too few returns push against closed doors and struggle to move air. Adding a return can relieve that pressure and quiet the system. It’s a modest install with an outsized effect on comfort.
Brands We Service
We work inside the ecosystems of the air-quality equipment that duct systems depend on. Honeywell and Aprilaire controls and filtration components are familiar territory – we clean and repair the ductwork those systems rely on, so the hardware can do its job. On the filtration side, we use Abatement Technologies and Guardsman products as part of a source-removal approach rather than surface cleaning. That’s the same methodology the restoration trade relies on, and it’s what lets us address contaminated duct material instead of just vacuuming around it.
For the cleaning and pressure work itself, we run Rotobrush contact-cleaning systems and Nikro negative-pressure equipment. Those are the tools of commercial and restoration contractors, not consumer-grade shop-vac setups, and knowing where each one belongs on a job is part of the skill. Whether you have Honeywell or Aprilaire controls, or any other make, we can help. If your system includes brand-name filtration, tell us when you call and we’ll bring the equipment that matches.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Whistling or hissing at the registers. That sound usually means a joint has opened somewhere upstream and air is escaping into the attic or wall cavity. It’s a pressure leak, and it gets worse the longer the system runs.
- Rooms that never match the thermostat. One room that stays warm while the rest of the house is fine points to a crushed or disconnected run feeding it. No filter change will fix a duct that isn’t carrying air.
- Dust returning fast after cleaning. If surfaces are dusty again within days, the dust is likely coming from inside the duct system, not from outside. A gap in the return side pulls attic air straight into the living space.
- Visible sagging, tears or tape peeling in the attic. Duct tape that has curled or let go is a sign the seal failed seasons ago. The joint behind it is probably leaking at its original rate again.
- Higher energy bills with no other explanation. When your usage climbs and nothing about your habits changed, leaking ductwork is one of the first things worth checking. Lost conditioned air means the system runs longer to hit the same setpoint.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Phone conversation and scheduling. We ask what you’re seeing – which rooms, what sounds, when it started – so we bring the right equipment. Call (866) 942-9804. We answer 24/7, with fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
- 2
On-site inspection and airflow testing. We walk the accessible ductwork and check airflow at the registers, looking for pressure loss rather than guessing at it. Damaged sections get photographed so you can see what we’re seeing.
- 3
Written estimate before any work. You get one flat price per system, laid out in writing, before anything is touched. No per-vent pricing, no surprise line items once the technician is on site.
- 4
Repair with professional-grade equipment. Depending on what we find, that’s resealing, section replacement, or a fresh run – done with Rotobrush and Nikro gear and sealed to hold. We clean the affected ductwork as part of the repair so debris doesn’t settle back into the fix.
- 5
Final check and before-and-after photos. We verify airflow after the work and hand you photos of your own ducts so the difference is something you can see. If a question comes up later, you have a record of what was done.
How Much Does Air Duct Repair Cost in Columbia?
Air duct repair in Columbia is estimated in the range of $250 to $900 for typical sealing and reconnection work, with sectional replacement running about $350 to $1,200 and whole-system replacement in the $1,800 to $5,400 range. A typical repair visit here runs $250-$900 depending on how many leaks we find and how accessible the runs are in the attic.
What affects the price: the number of separate leaks, whether the work is in an attic or a crawlspace, how much duct has to come out and be rebuilt, and the type of material involved. A single resealed trunk tap is a very different job from a collapsed run that needs a replacement section fitted into a tight space.
How to avoid overpaying: insist on a written estimate before work starts and make sure it covers the whole system rather than pricing per vent. A low teaser figure that grows once the technician is on site is the oldest pattern in this trade. Ask what the price includes – sealing, cleaning of the affected runs, and photos of the work.
What’s included in a free estimate: the on-site inspection, airflow check at the registers, and a written flat price per system. No diagnostic or trip fee, no obligation to book. Estimates are free, and the number in writing is what you pay.
Our Service Area Near Columbia
We serve homeowners and property managers across the Columbia area, including Woodfield, Dentsville, Forest Acres, Capitol View, Cayce, Hopkins, St. Andrews, West Columbia, Blythewood, Springdale and Seven Oaks. Response times depend on where you are and how the day is booked, so call and we’ll give you a realistic window. You can also read more about our Columbia service coverage, or check the pages for Woodfield and Dentsville if you’re in either of those areas. For the full picture of what we do, start with Hartwell Air Duct Cleaning.
Serving Columbia, SC – Our Local Coverage Area
We serve Columbia and nearby communities. Use the map below to see the area we cover. If you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Duct Repair in Columbia
Air duct repair is the structural work of fixing a duct system – sealing separated joints, reconnecting runs that have pulled loose, patching tears, and replacing sections that have collapsed or degraded. It’s different from duct cleaning, which removes debris from a system that’s structurally sound. Most Columbia homes we see need some of both, and we quote them as one job.
Most repair visits take two to four hours, depending on how many leaks we find and how hard the attic or crawlspace is to work in. Sectional replacement can run longer, and a whole-system job is usually scheduled as its own appointment. We’ll tell you the expected time when the estimate is written.
Typical repair work in Columbia is estimated at $250 to $900, with sectional replacement from about $350 to $1,200. Whole-system replacement runs roughly $1,800 to $5,400. Your written estimate sets the final price – call (866) 942-9804 and estimates are free.
Yes. We work with Honeywell and Aprilaire controls and filtration components, along with Abatement Technologies and Guardsman filtration products, and we repair the ductwork those systems depend on. Tell us what’s installed when you call so we bring the right equipment. If your system is a different make, we can still help – call (866) 942-9804 for an exact quote.
Same-day appointments are often available; call (866) 942-9804 to check. We answer 24/7, and fast dispatch runs from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday – we’re closed Saturday. A call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening.
Ask about our satisfaction guarantee when you call, and we’ll go over exactly what it covers for your job. The estimate spells out the scope of work so there’s no ambiguity about what’s covered. Call (866) 942-9804 to talk it through.
Clear access to the attic hatch or crawlspace opening and move anything fragile away from the registers. If you know where the air handler is, point it out when the technician arrives. Beyond that, you don’t need to do anything – we handle the rest and clean up before we leave.
Schedule Your Air Duct Repair Service in Columbia Today
If your ducts are leaking, sagging or not delivering air where it’s needed, we can tell you what’s wrong and what it takes to fix it. Call (866) 942-9804 for a free, no-obligation estimate with one flat price per system agreed before work starts. We answer 24/7, with fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. Our technicians have up to 11 years of experience, and you’ll get before-and-after photos of your own ducts when the job is done.
Written by the team at Hartwell Air Duct Cleaning.