Row F 4 pages and this overview
Options, Money and Hiring
The short of it
Duct options and hiring come down to four checks: whether ductless fits the room, whether an evaporative cooler suits your water and air, what money is left in 2026, and a CSLB-licensed C-20 contractor.
Valley Home Ducts, figures checked against their sources · updated
This page links to Quality Water Treatment, which has the same owners as Valley Home Ducts. Those links are examples only; no figure here depends on them. About these links
What to carry away
- ENERGY STAR's mini-split factsheet says ductwork losses can exceed 30% of a home's space-conditioning energy use.
- The IRS says the 25C credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025; the 25D credit ended on the same date.
- TECH Clean California single-family heat pump incentives have been fully reserved since November 14, 2025, and HEEHRA single-family rebates since February 24, 2026.
- SMUD still lists heat pump rebates of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 in Sacramento, "subject to availability of funding."
- The CSLB tells consumers to confirm an active C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning license.
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: evaporative coolers need a window open a crack in each room being cooled.
When does a ductless option make more sense than ducts?
Ductless fits best where ducts are hardest to run or lose the most. ENERGY STAR's 2025 mini-split factsheet says these systems cool directly from the unit, avoiding ductwork losses that can account for more than 30% of a home's energy use for space conditioning. It names additions, garages and other outbuildings where extending ductwork is difficult, and rooms next to unconditioned space such as a room over a garage, as good fits.
The refrigerant lines need only a 3-inch hole in an outdoor wall, but installation is still a licensed contractor's job: the line set carries refrigerant, and EPA requires Section 608 certification for technicians who service equipment that could release it. The page on ductless mini-splits vs ducts weighs what you give up, including mixed ducted and ductless setups.
Where do evaporative coolers fit among duct options?
An evaporative cooler pushes outdoor air through wet pads into the house, so it needs an exit for that air and a plan for the water. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension's water-saving tips say to open a window a crack in the rooms you are cooling to draw cooled air through them. The same page says some coolers have a bleed-off valve that drains recirculating water to prevent excessive mineral buildup, and that the drained water is too high in minerals to put on plants.
That makes water hardness the first number to know. A hardness field test kit (Quality Water Treatment, same owners as Valley Home Ducts) lets you measure your water hardness before running an evaporative cooler, so the bleed-off can be set to the maker's recommendation rather than guessed. Smoke season is the other limit: CARB's Smoke Ready page tells Californians not to run swamp coolers on smoke days. The page on evaporative cooler ducts covers duct size, relief air and Valley humidity.
What money help is left in 2026?
Less than in 2025. The IRS says the 25C home improvement credit does not cover property placed in service after December 31, 2025, and its 25D page says that credit is not available for property placed in service after that date. On the state side, TECH Clean California reports single-family heat pump HVAC incentives fully reserved since November 14, 2025, and its HEEHRA page shows single-family rebates fully reserved as of February 24, 2026 and multifamily as of September 1, 2026.
Local programs vary. SMUD, which serves Sacramento, lists heat pump rebates and a Seal and Insulate rebate of up to $3,000, both subject to funding and both requiring its network contractors. For PG&E, Modesto Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District customers, check the utility's current rebate page before you sign; Valley Home Ducts has not confirmed a duct rebate from any of them. The rebates and tax credits page tracks the dates.
How do you hire a duct contractor?
Start with the license. The CSLB's consumer page on HVAC upgrades says to be sure your contractor holds an active C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning license, and you can check any license's status online by number or business name.
Then get the job in writing: a permit, which is standard practice for a changeout, and the duct leakage result as a percentage of system airflow, verified by a state-certified ECC-Rater (called a HERS Rater under the 2022 code). Ask for load and duct calculations by ACCA Manual J and Manual D where ducts are being redesigned, and for a combustion safety test before and after sealing if a gas furnace or water heater is in the house. The full list is on questions for a duct contractor.
Which duct options trigger Title 24 testing?
Replacing the air handler, outdoor condensing unit or coil does. Title 24 §150.2(b)1E, as reproduced on Energy Code Ace, requires the connected ducts to test at 10% or less total leakage, or 7% or less leakage to outside; if neither can be met, all accessible leaks must be sealed and verified by visual inspection and a smoke test. Installing more than 25 feet of new or replacement duct brings in the new-duct rules, and an entirely new duct system must test at 5% or less.
Systems with under 40 linear feet of duct, ducts already documented as sealed, and ducts built or sealed with asbestos are exempt from the changeout sealing rule. Don't disturb suspected asbestos wrap yourself; an accredited professional samples it. If you're unsure, call a licensed technician.
| Option or step | Key fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ductless mini-split | Avoids duct losses that can exceed 30% of space-conditioning energy | ENERGY STAR |
| Evaporative cooler | Needs a window open a crack per cooled room; bleed-off limits mineral buildup | UA Cooperative Extension |
| Federal 25C and 25D credits | Not for property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2025 | IRS |
| TECH and HEEHRA single-family | Fully reserved (Nov. 14, 2025 and Feb. 24, 2026) | TECH Clean California |
| SMUD heat pump rebates | $3,000 / $2,000 / $1,000, subject to funding | SMUD |
| Hiring | Active C-20 license with CSLB | CSLB |
- >30%of space-conditioning energy ductwork losses can takeENERGY STAR
- Dec. 31, 2025cutoff for 25C and 25D propertyIRS
- $3,000top SMUD heat pump rebate, while funds lastSMUD
- C-20CSLB license class for HVAC workCSLB
How this page was put together
This hub summarizes the four Options and hiring pages, drawing on ENERGY STAR's 2025 mini-split factsheet, the IRS 25C and 25D pages, TECH Clean California, SMUD, the CSLB, EPA's Section 608 page, UA Cooperative Extension, CARB and the Title 24 text on Energy Code Ace. Rebate and credit status was checked on October 28, 2026 and can change. Not included: equipment or installation prices, contractor names, and utility rebates that could not be confirmed.
Questions from the field
Is a mini-split cheaper than replacing ducts?
No source read compares prices, so this site gives none. Get written bids for both from licensed contractors.
Do PG&E, MID or TID pay for duct work?
Valley Home Ducts could not confirm a current duct-sealing rebate from PG&E, the Modesto Irrigation District or the Turlock Irrigation District on October 28, 2026. Check your utility's own rebate page before you sign anything.
Is an evaporative cooler a good fit in the Central Valley?
It depends on the weather and your water. Coolers need outdoor air and open windows, and CARB says to keep them off on smoke days. Check your water hardness and the maker's bleed-off guidance before the season starts.
Should I use softened water in an evaporative cooler?
Follow the cooler maker's instructions; Valley Home Ducts makes no case for it. UA Cooperative Extension describes the bleed-off valve as the way to keep minerals from building up, and a hardness figure helps you set it.
Does duct work need a licensed contractor?
Yes, in nearly every real case. The state licensing board's threshold is a thousand dollars of combined labor and materials, and permit jobs always qualify; ducts sit inside its C-20 class. The hiring page walks through checking a license.
Are any heat pump rebates still open in the Valley?
SMUD lists heat pump and Seal and Insulate rebates for Sacramento customers, subject to funding. TECH and HEEHRA single-family incentives are fully reserved, and federal 25C and 25D credits ended with 2025. Other utilities: check their current pages.