Ductwork coverage is one of the most variable and often limited aspects of HVAC coverage in home warranties.
When included, coverage typically covers:
Ductwork in walls or inaccessible areas. Leaking ducts buried in walls or encased in concrete slabs require opening walls or breaking slab — this is typically excluded as a code upgrade / structural issue.
Insulation. Duct insulation is excluded.
Flexible duct replacement. Collapsed or significantly degraded flex duct often requires full replacement — some plans cover it, some cap the coverage at specific linear footage.
Sheet metal fabrication. Custom duct fabrication for modifications or additions is excluded.
Asbestos-containing ductwork. Older homes (pre-1980) may have duct insulation containing asbestos. Remediation is excluded — it’s a hazardous materials issue.
Ductwork problems show up as: rooms that won’t cool or heat, high energy bills without other explanation, hot/cold spots in the house. HVAC technicians often discover ductwork issues when diagnosing HVAC performance problems.
The coverage matters most in older homes where ductwork may be aging, and in climates with extreme temperature differentials where ductwork efficiency has high financial impact.
Full ductwork replacement ($2,000-$10,000 depending on home size) is rarely covered under any home warranty. The coverage is for discrete failures within accessible ductwork, not whole-system remediation.
If your ductwork is in poor condition, a home warranty won’t solve the underlying problem.