Inspection boundary
Identify which accessible supply and return areas will be inspected and which areas cannot be reached.
Ductwork and airflow scope
What does the replacement quote actually promise about ducts and airflow?
Replacing equipment does not automatically define the condition or scope of the duct system. A decision-ready quote says what will be inspected, tested, repaired, sealed, verified, or excluded.
General information only · Not a duct diagnosis, airflow or leakage calculation, inspection, or savings estimate
Whole-system context
Separate the equipment box from the air-delivery scope.
ENERGY STAR quality-installation guidance calls for attention to duct condition, leakage, airflow, and system performance. Use those topics to compare written commitments, not to diagnose the home from a proposal.
Supply and return
Ask how the contractor will evaluate whether the existing supply and return paths fit the replacement plan.
Testing
Separate visual inspection from leakage or airflow testing, and ask which results will be recorded.
Repair scope
List damaged, disconnected, crushed, or kinked runs plus any sealing, insulation, or filter work included.
Unknown conditions
Put allowances, exclusions, change-order rules, and final airflow verification into the written proposal.
Quote fields
Make included work and unknowns comparable.
The proposal should identify how conditions are observed, what work follows, and what can change the final price.
| Field | Decision-ready answer | Reason to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Access and inspection | Areas inspected and access limits | “Existing ducts remain” with no review |
| Tests | Leakage or airflow method and written results | Inspection and testing are treated as the same |
| Repair | Damaged runs, sealing materials, and insulation scope | “Duct repair as needed” is unpriced |
| Balance and filter | Supply-return assumptions, filter work, and final verification | No completion measure is named |
| Change control | Allowance, exclusions, and written change-order rule | Unknown conditions can change price without a limit |
Read the result
Clarify, verify, or compare.
The duct scope is silent.
Ask what will be inspected and what remains excluded.
Work is named but the test or closeout is not.
Request the method, result, and completion evidence in writing.
Both proposals define the boundary.
Normalize repairs, allowances, exclusions, and final verification before comparing price.
Primary sources
Use program-owner quality guidance.
ENERGY STAR quality installation
Whole-system installation topics including duct condition, leakage, and airflow.
ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation ↗Professional duct guidance
What homeowners can expect when evaluating and addressing duct leakage.
ENERGY STAR Professional Duct Contractor Guidance ↗ACCA design context
How Manuals J, S, and D address distinct parts of HVAC design.
ACCA Manual J, S, and D Context ↗Sources reviewed August 25, 2026. Confirm the actual duct condition and written scope with the responsible licensed contractor.
Common questions
Keep observations, tests, and commitments distinct.
Does every HVAC replacement require new ductwork?+
No. The point is to document what the contractor inspected and what the proposal includes or excludes, not to assume every system needs duct modification.
Is visual inspection the same as leakage or airflow testing?+
No. Visual review can identify some accessible damage; leakage and airflow tests measure different conditions. Ask what method is included and what written result you will receive.
How should unknown duct repairs appear in the quote?+
The proposal can state an allowance, exclusion, unit price, or written change-order process. What matters is that an unknown condition does not silently become an unlimited price change.
Already holding a written quote?
Make duct scope part of the market bar.
SecondLook preserves included work, exclusions, and change conditions before comparing a lower option.
- No deposit
- No contractor visit without your approval
- 15% of verified savings only if you use a lower comparable option