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Is $23,000 to replace entire HVAC system and all air ducts due to mold a fair price?

Project Details

The drain pipe leaked from my HVAC system, which is only six years old, leading to mold remediation. The issue was fixed, walls were removed, affected areas were cleaned, and everything was put back together. The air handler had mold and was cleaned by a NADCA certified company, and the air ducts were clean. One year later, the air handler has mold again, including the intake duct and the ducts throughout the house. Because of health issues, I am planning to replace the entire system and all air ducts. Many of the components in my air handler that reduce noise and prevent condensation are made of fiberglass. From my understanding, fiberglass is very difficult to properly clean once mold is present. A year ago, the fiberglass front panel of the air handler had mold on it. The compressor was removed recently, and when I looked up into the return, which is also fiberglass, I saw mold there as well. Clearly this was not cleaned properly during the original remediation. The first time this happened, I was able to hold the original AC company responsible since they installed the system, and they covered the remediation costs. Everything passed inspection, so I can’t put this back on them now. When mold remediation is done on an HVAC system, mold inspectors almost always recommend replacing the entire unit because it’s nearly impossible to clean every surface thoroughly, especially inside the unit and the ductwork. This is often not done due to cost. The original testing did not identify black mold, but it has still caused health issues for my family, including our pet who is allergic to mold. My main question is whether using air scrubbers during the removal and replacement process is a good preventive measure. If the entire system and ductwork are being removed, and those ducts have a significant amount of mold spores, it seems reasonable to worry about spores being spread throughout the house during removal, depending on how carefully the work is done. People always say “better safe than sorry,” but if air scrubbers aren’t standard practice during mold contaminated duct removal, then maybe I don't need to spend the extra money on it. I believe hiring a remediation company to place air scrubbers around the house could be a few thousand dollars.

Quote Details

This quote is for replacing the entire HVAC system and all air ducts due to recurring mold issues. The previous mold remediation, performed a year prior by a NADCA certified company, failed to prevent mold recurrence. The homeowner is undertaking this replacement due to ongoing health concerns caused by the mold. - Scope of work: Replacement of entire HVAC system - Scope of work: Replacement of all air ducts - Reason for replacement: Recurring mold in air handler, intake duct, and throughout house ducts - Previous remediation: Performed by a NADCA certified company, but mold returned after one year

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More Details

Category

HVAC

Price

$23,000

Quote Date

February 1, 2026

Location

Florida

System type

Furnace, Air conditioner

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