Residential HVAC Ductwork Evaluation, Repair, and Replacement Workforce Survey Data (Questions and Responses), Southeastern United States, Nov 2025 to Jan 2026

This submission contains two data resources associated with an HVAC workforce engagement study conducted by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) and the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) as part of their ?Optimizing Heat Pump Readiness? Building America project. The dataset includes (1) the full HVAC contractor survey question set in PDF format and (2) the corresponding survey response dataset in spreadsheet (.xlsx) format.

The survey was designed to collect field-based insights on ductwork evaluation, repair, and replacement practices in existing single-family homes. Data were collected from HVAC contractors and allied professionals with recent (past two years) experience in residential duct systems. The survey was administered using the Qualtrics survey platform. It includes structured and conditional question pathways covering workforce roles, diagnostic tools and testing methods, duct airtightness and airflow measurements, repair and replacement practices, customer interactions, business practices, and workforce training needs.

Survey responses capture both quantitative and qualitative data, including multiple-choice selections, frequency-based responses, and open-ended inputs. Topics represented in the responses include duct system diagnostics (e.g., static pressure, airflow, leakage testing), common repair and replacement tasks, barriers to implementation (e.g., cost, customer skepticism), and workforce training needs.

Data collection occurred primarily during 2025, with analysis completed in early 2026. A total of 128 qualified respondents completed the survey, representing primarily licensed HVAC contractors and related professions. Respondents are predominantly located in the southeastern United States, including Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and surrounding states.

The dataset is intended to inform research, program design, workforce training development, and market transformation efforts related to residential HVAC system performance and ductwork improvements. Units, response options, and measurement types are defined within the survey question set and preserved in the response dataset. Users should reference the question set PDF to interpret variable definitions, skip logic, and conditional question flows embedded in the dataset.

Prerequisites for use include familiarity with survey-based research methods and HVAC terminology, particularly concepts such as duct leakage (e.g., CFM25), airflow, static pressure, and thermal performance. Some fields include free-text responses that may require qualitative interpretation. No proprietary software is required beyond standard tools capable of reading PDF and Excel file formats.