i'm a died in the wool DIY homeowner who just paid several hundred dollars to the pro's to come out and install an extra return air vent for me in my sons room. i've been happy with the company doing my regular maintenance (another thing that I pay them to do!) so I asked them to estimate that work for me. Luckily the attic access over it is easy and so they were able to do it for what I considered a reasonable cost.
They did run flex-duct But it was properly supported and not crimped or bent and they didn't make a mess in my house and didn't even leave any drywall dust laying around when they cut the new vent hole in his ceiling.
They didn't bug me about payment or even want me to do anything that day. I just got their bill in the mail today for exactly what they estimated.
I hang out here so that I can know what they should be doing to my equipment, and to make sure that it gets done properly. Not to put you guys out of business by stealing your double secret advice Without what I've learned around here I'd probably be burning out my blower motor by closing all the other vents upstairs to try to force more air into his room. Already what I've learned here has let me give advice to other folks that there were solutions to their problems and that they should find a local company that can tell them this that or the other. So you're helping to drive business to the more reputable among you by giving out this info!
I, for one, really appreciate it and hope that you won't be made cynical by chewing gum and bailing wire folks! Both items have their place and it can be fun to build things out of them But not when your family's health and safety are concerned... But that doesn't mean I shouldn't know how to do it properly, at least with enough detail to know if the "pro" is doing it properly.
Thanks folks,
James