Ductwork Replacement cost in Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire, WI · updated August 2026

$5,400

Typical local cost

$2,500 – $12,000

Typical range

per supply run
$250 – $600

Installed, local pricing

Permit
Yes

$85 – $295 in fees

Typical timeline
1-3 days of work

1-3 days of work, 1-3 weeks including permitting

Calculate my ductwork cost

Eau Claire runs 0% against the U.S. average · data confidence Medium · modeled estimate, not a quote

The modeled midpoint for Eau Claire is $5,400. The local adjustment for this trade is x1.001 — driven mainly by Eau Claire County labor rates and 55% exposure to local code requirements.

Estimate your Eau Claire job

Priced with this market's cost index, so the calculator, the size table and the ranges on this page all agree.

Recommended size

5 tons

Round to the nearest half ton

Cooling load
61,000 BTU/hr
Typical equipment costInstalled, 14-17 SEER2
$8,500 – $16,000
Rule-of-thumb check
400 sq ft per ton

Priced for Eau Claire (local adjustment x1.001).

Estimates only. Local pricing, site conditions and code requirements change the real number.

Cost by project size

Generated from the same unit pricing the calculator uses.

Estimated cost by project size
Project sizeEstimated range
8 supply run$2,000$4,800
10 supply run$2,500$6,000
13 supply run$3,300$7,800
17 supply run$4,300$10,200
22 supply run$5,500$13,200

Based on Eau Claire pricing of $250–$600 per supply run.

Where the money goes

Labor
$2,400
43% of median
Materials
$3,000
54% of median
Permit & fees
$190
3% of median

Eau Claire project costs+0% vs U.S. average

Based on Eau Claire County labor rates, local material logistics and permit-fee posture for this trade.

What the project looks like start to finish

Typical sequence for this scope. Timing varies with contractor backlog and plan-review queues.

  1. 01

    Planning & quotes

    Scope, material choice, contractor selection

  2. 02

    Permit application

    Filed with City of Eau Claire building department

  3. 03

    Materials & staging

    Order lead time on non-stock materials

  4. 04

    Installation

    1-3 days of work, 1-3 weeks including permitting

  5. 05

    Inspection

    Duct rough-in, Duct leakage test, Final mechanical inspection

  6. 06

    Closeout

    Final sign-off, warranty and documentation

Eau Claire labor intelligence

What the trade charges here, and how much of your price it is.

Loaded hourly rate

$81–$105

HVAC crews in Eau Claire County · -3% vs U.S. ($95/hr)

Typical crew

2 × 1.5 days

On-site time for a typical ductwork job here.

Labor in the price

$2,400

45% of the median — the rest is material, disposal and permit.

Because labor is 45% of this job, Eau Claire wage levels move the price far more than material prices do. A quote well under this labor figure usually means a smaller crew, a longer schedule, or unlicensed help.

Basis: Hometriva labor model: national hvac crew rates adjusted by the Eau Claire County labor factor (x0.974). · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Hometriva methodology

Why Eau Claire differs from the national average

The local delta, broken into dollars by driver.

Trade labor rates$75Code and inspection load$50
Dollars of the Eau Claire difference owned by each driver, versus the U.S. median for ductwork replacement.
  • Trade labor rates-$75

    Eau Claire County crews price 3% below the national average, and labor is 45% of this job.

  • Code and inspection load+$50

    Ductwork Replacement carries 55% exposure to local code requirements, and this jurisdiction's review load indexes at x1.02.

Basis: Decomposition of the modeled Eau Claire median against the U.S. median for this scope. · City of Eau Claire building department, Hometriva methodology

Eau Claire vs Wisconsin vs the U.S.

Eau Claire$2,500$12,000Wisconsin average$2,500$12,000U.S. average$2,500$12,000
Modeled ranges for ductwork replacement. The tick marks the median in each geography.

Change the inputs, see your number

The same local model, run against your job instead of the average one.

Simulated ductwork replacement in Eau Claire

$5,590

Likely range $2,690$12,190

Simulated from the same local model as the numbers above — it changes the inputs, not the pricing method.

What makes the number move

  • Number of supply and return runs
  • Flex duct versus rigid sheet metal
  • Attic access and clearance
  • Return air sizing corrections
  • Removal of contaminated duct board

Who issues each permit

Tracked per discipline — the building permit issuer is not always the body that reviews electrical, plumbing, zoning or fire.

Permitting authority by discipline
DisciplineIssuing authority
buildingCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
electricalCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
mechanicalCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
plumbingCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
zoningCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
fireCity of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate

Permit requirement in Eau Claire

Yes — a permit is required for ductwork replacement in Eau Claire, WI. The work must be inspected before it can be closed out, and a licensed contractor generally has to pull the permit.

Permitting authority
City of Eau Claire building departmentModeled estimate
Permit fee
Estimated allowance $85$295Modeled from comparable fee schedules — not an official quoted fee.

Inspections

  1. Duct rough-in
  2. Duct leakage test
  3. Final mechanical inspection
Full Eau Claire permit guide for ductwork replacement

Local conditions that change this job

Only the exposures that materially affect ductwork replacement.

Cooling load / heat exposure

Severe82/100

Humidity

Severe84/100

Nearby market comparison

MarketLocal factorMedianPer supply run
Eau Claire (this page)x1.001$5,400$250$600
Rochesterx1.069$5,800$250$650
St. Paulx1.092$5,900$250$650
Minneapolisx1.169$6,300$300$700

What Eau Claire homeowners actually paid

Homeowner-reported invoices for this market. Nothing is published until enough reports clear review, so this section is often empty in newer markets — adding yours takes 20 seconds and no personal details.

No name, email or address is collected. Reports are reviewed before they count.

Quotes homeowners were given in Eau Claire

Quotes run ahead of final invoices. Reporting yours shows the local spread and where there is room to negotiate.

No name, email or address is collected.

How Hometriva estimates Eau Claire ductwork costs

Hometriva does not publish invented city prices. The Eau Claire estimate for ductwork replacement is produced by this chain, and every input is stored separately:

  1. National baseline$5,400

    Typical U.S. cost for ductwork replacement on a single-family home.

  2. Local labor factorx0.974

    Eau Claire-area trade labor rates, weighted at 45% of this job.

  3. Material factorx1.005

    Material and delivery pricing into Eau Claire County, weighted at 55%.

  4. Regulatory factorx1.019

    Local code, product-approval and inspection load, applied at 55% for this project type.

  5. Applied multiplierx1.001

    Blended Eau Claire adjustment specific to ductwork replacement.

  6. Permit component$85 – $295

    Budgeted separately from the contract price because it is paid to the jurisdiction.

Because labor, material and regulatory factors are weighted per project, ductwork replacement in Eau Claire carries a different local adjustment than other trades in the same market.

Reviewed by

Hometriva Cost Data Desk

Maintains the unit-cost baselines, local adjustment factors and material pricing. Reviewed for ductwork replacement pricing in Eau Claire, WI.

  • National unit-cost baselines against current trade pricing
  • Local labor and materials factors for the market
  • Material installed-cost ranges and service life

Last reviewed August 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for ductwork replacement in Eau Claire, WI?

In most jurisdictions this work is permitted and inspected. Requirements are set locally, so confirm the current application and inspection checklist with your building department before work starts.

How long does ductwork replacement take?

1-3 days of work, 1-3 weeks including permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.

What changes the price the most?

The largest cost drivers are number of supply and return runs; flex duct versus rigid sheet metal; attic access and clearance.

Sources

Sources & verification

Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.

Related pages