In most South Florida homes the ductwork runs through the attic, where summer temperatures climb well past 120 degrees. Every leak, loose joint and crushed run in that space either dumps cooled air into the attic or pulls hot, humid air into the system. You pay for it on your FPL bill, and you feel it in rooms that stay warm and sticky no matter where the thermostat is set.
Sunshine State HVAC cleans, seals, repairs and replaces ductwork for homes and light commercial buildings in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade. That includes flex duct, ductboard, plenums, boots, registers and return grilles. Our licensed HVAC technicians inspect first, show you what they found, and give you a clear quote before any work begins.
If you're dealing with dust, musty smells, sweating vents or uneven temperatures, call (954) 800-2561 or use the Book an Appointment form. We work 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm.
Signs your ducts need attention
Uneven temperatures are the most common clue. If one bedroom is always several degrees warmer than the rest of the house, the duct feeding it may be crushed, disconnected or simply too long and too small. A system that runs constantly without catching up can point the same way.
Dust that settles again a day after you clean, a musty odor when the system kicks on, or a whistling sound from vents and return grilles all suggest leaks or buildup. Water stains on the ceiling around a supply register, or drops forming on the vent itself, usually mean ducts are sweating in the attic.
It's also worth an inspection after a renovation that threw drywall dust into the system, after rodents or roof rats have been in the attic, after any roof leak, or when you've just bought a home and don't know the history of its ductwork.
Cleaning vs. repair: Which problem do you actually have?
Duct cleaning removes debris, dust and contamination from inside the system. It does not fix leaks. A lot of problems people blame on dirty ducts, like high bills, hot rooms and humidity, are really caused by gaps, failed joints and disconnected runs pulling in attic air.
That's why we inspect before recommending anything. The technician checks the air handler, plenum, accessible duct runs and register boots, and may use a camera to look inside trunk lines. Sometimes cleaning is what you need. Sometimes it's sealing and repair, and sometimes it's both.
If your ducts are in decent shape and cleaning won't make a real difference, we'll tell you. There's no point paying for work that doesn't solve the problem you called about.
How a duct cleaning visit works
The technician starts by protecting your floors and furniture near the air handler and covering supply registers so loosened debris doesn't blow into the rooms. A high powered vacuum is connected to the system to put the ductwork under negative pressure, so dust is pulled toward the collection equipment instead of into your living space.
Each supply and return run is agitated with rotating brushes, air whips or both to loosen debris stuck to duct walls. Registers and return grilles are removed and cleaned, and the return plenum, which often holds the heaviest buildup, gets particular attention.
Cleaning the ducts while leaving a dirty evaporator coil and blower behind just recontaminates the system, so we check those components too and let you know if they need cleaning. The visit ends with a fresh filter, a final check of airflow and a look at what came out of your system.
Attic heat, humidity and sweating ducts
Sweating ducts are a uniquely Gulf Coast and South Florida headache. Cold air moves through the duct, the attic air around it is hot and loaded with moisture, and wherever the insulation is torn, compressed or missing, water condenses on the surface. It drips onto the drywall, stains the ceiling and can feed mold growth above your rooms.
The fix depends on the cause. Torn vapor jackets and gaps around boots can often be sealed and rewrapped. Runs that are flattened, waterlogged or crumbling are better replaced with new duct insulated to current code. Low airflow can also make ducts colder than they should be, so we check that the system is moving enough air.
Hurricane season adds its own risk. Roof damage and wind driven rain can soak attic ductwork without anyone noticing until stains appear. After a major storm, have the ducts and insulation checked if there's any sign of water in the attic.
Common duct repairs we handle
Flex duct that has come loose from a boot or collar is one of the most frequent finds. A full run can blow cold air straight into the attic for months. We also see flex that's been crushed by storage boxes, kinked around trusses or sagging between supports, all of which choke airflow.
Old cloth duct tape breaks down in attic heat, so many joints that were taped years ago are now open. We seal connections with mastic or approved foil tape and mechanical fasteners that hold up. Gaps between register boots and the drywall are sealed so conditioned air goes into the room instead of the ceiling cavity.
Return side leaks deserve special attention. In homes with air handlers in a garage or utility closet, a leaky return can pull in garage air, dust and fumes. We seal return plenums and platforms, repair or replace deteriorated ductboard, and fix damage left by rodents chewing through insulation.
Rebalancing airflow for hot and cold rooms
When one end of the house or the upstairs is always warmer, the issue is often how air is distributed, not the AC itself. Long runs to far rooms, too few return paths, and undersized branches all limit how much air reaches certain spaces.
Closed bedroom doors are a classic culprit in homes with a single central return. The room pressurizes, less air comes in, and it stays warm. Transfer grilles or jumper ducts give that air a path back to the return. Balancing dampers can redirect airflow toward the rooms that need it.
We measure static pressure and airflow before recommending changes, so the fix is based on numbers rather than guesswork. If the problem turns out to be the equipment, our AC repair team can diagnose that during the same visit.
What drives the cost of duct work
For cleaning, the main factors are the size of the home and the number of supply and return vents, along with how much buildup is inside. Homes after construction work or pest problems take more time than a system that's simply overdue.
Repair costs depend on how many leaks and damaged runs there are, how accessible the attic is, attic height and the type of duct involved. A few sealed joints is a small job. Replacing several flex runs or rebuilding a return plenum is a larger one, and full duct replacement may require a permit through your building department.
Condos with ducts in dropped ceilings or soffits can involve more drywall access work. Whatever the scope, you'll get a clear quote before work starts, and we can show you photos of what we found so you understand why each item is on it.
Duct replacement and new AC systems
Ductwork in many South Florida homes is 15 to 25 years old, and older ductboard and early flex products break down in attic heat. When ducts are leaking in many places, sagging throughout or sized for a much older system, replacement is often more sensible than repairing piece by piece.
This matters most when you're replacing your AC. A new high SEER2 system connected to leaky, undersized ducts will not deliver the comfort or efficiency it was rated for. Static pressure that's too high can also shorten the life of the new blower motor.
If you're planning a new system, we evaluate the ducts as part of AC installation and replacement so you know up front whether they're reusable, need repair or should be replaced along with the equipment.
Air duct FAQs
How often should ducts be cleaned? There's no fixed schedule that fits every home. It's worth doing after renovations, pest activity, mold remediation, or when you move into a home with an unknown history.
Will duct cleaning help with allergies? It removes accumulated dust and debris, which can help, but it works best combined with good filtration and humidity control. Our indoor air quality services cover that side.
Is it messy? The system is kept under negative pressure and registers are covered, so dust is pulled into the collection equipment rather than into your rooms.
Do you work in condos? Yes. Condo ducts are often shorter but tucked into ceilings and soffits, and we plan access around building rules. We serve homes throughout Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.
Tell us what you're noticing
When you call, describe the symptom rather than the fix you think you need. Is it dust, a smell, a hot room, stains on the ceiling or a high bill? We'll also ask whether the home is one or two stories, where the air handler sits, roughly how many vents you have and whether the attic is easy to get into. Those details tell us how long to plan for and what equipment to bring.
Inspection before recommendations
The first visit is about finding out what's actually going on. The technician looks at the air handler, filter, plenum and accessible duct runs, and takes photos of anything that needs attention. You'll see those photos and get an explanation in plain language before anything is recommended, so you can compare cleaning, repair and replacement on your own terms.
Scheduling the work
Small repairs like reconnecting a run or sealing a few joints can often be done during the inspection visit once you approve the price. Larger cleaning or replacement jobs are scheduled for a day that works for you, any day of the week between 7am and 11pm. Attic work in summer is best done earlier in the day, and we'll suggest a time when that matters.