Remodeling your home involves a long list of choices and decisions. Besides determining how you might change the physical space, you’ll probably spend a considerable amount of time considering flooring, wall finishes, lighting, and many other features. However, don’t forget about the heating and air conditioning considerations when remodeling your home.
If you’re making major changes to your home, there’s a good chance they’ll have an impact on how your home is heated and cooled, as well as whether your current system can accommodate the changes. That’s particularly true if your renovation involves adding rooms or additional space to existing rooms or reconfiguring walls, windows, and doors. Nardco Heating and Air Conditioning talks about some factors to consider during a remodeling project and how they could affect your current HVAC systems.
Is Your Current HVAC Unit Strong Enough?
Heating and air professionals choose a home’s HVAC system based on a variety of factors, and one of the most important is the home’s size. After all, the system must be large and powerful enough to deliver heated or cooled air to the entire house. If you enlarge your home but keep your current HVAC system, you’re likely to discover that it can no longer keep up. Or the system might have to work much harder to supply enough air to the home so that it suffers more wear and tear. This can result in spikes in your energy bills.
As you’re planning your project, it’s a good idea to reach out to an HVAC professional like Nardco Heating and Air Conditioning to evaluate whether your current system can handle your heating and cooling needs in your new addition. We can come up with a new plan and suggest any modifications that may be needed. That way, you’ll know what to expect so you can budget properly for it.
HVAC Considerations For Remodeling your home
When working on a home remodel, you will be faced with some decisions you might not have considered before. Here are some common HVAC system questions that come up during a home remodel project.
Will Your New Space Need Air Ducts?
Nobody typically thinks much about ductwork because it’s not visible. Your ductwork rests behind walls and above ceilings, but it does the important work of bringing heated and cooled air to the rooms where they’re needed. If you’re changing the layout of your rooms or adding additional square footage to your home, you may need to modify existing ductwork or add new ducts. Again, a heating and cooling professional can look over your plan to see what you might need.
Would This Room Benefit From Personalized Controls?
Many homeowners that take on a remodel are shocked to find that their heating and cooling system will not be able to meet their needs once the space is added square footage is added to their home, but having ductwork reconfigured and adding a new HVAC unit to their home is just not in the budget. However, they don’t want their new room to be uncomfortable.
One solution many homeowners opt for is installing a ductless mini-split system instead of upgrading their current system. A ductless mini split is an energy-efficient HVAC unit that is connected to an outdoor compressor through a small conduit, not air ducts. These systems can have their own thermostat, making them ideal for spaces like workshops, or a newly finished space like an attic or basement, as well as sunrooms. Nardco can install a ductless mini split system in your home if we think this would be a good comfort solution for your new space.
How Will My Energy Costs Be Effected By A Remodel?
One of the goals of your remodeling project is likely to bring more comfort to your home. That’s why you may want to think about replacing your current HVAC system with today’s newer energy-efficient heating and cooling technology. These new systems will not only improve the comfort of your home but will operate more efficiently, so you’ll use less energy. How much less? We’ve seen homeowners achieve 15, 20, or even 25 percent saving and more in some cases. As you examine your options, look for systems that have earned the ENERGY STAR seal.
Will My HVAC System Be Damaged During the Remodel?
Even if the workers aren’t in the same room as your furnace, it’s important to take particular steps to make sure your HVAC system isn’t damaged during your home’s remodel. Once work begins, dust and dirt are unavoidable. If that dust and dirt find their way into your HVAC system, it can lead to problems such as parts wearing out more quickly, or dust being blown throughout your house. Ask the contractors to ensure that vents and registers are closed or sealed off so dust won’t get in while work is being performed.
Make sure your outside unit is also protected, too. If construction equipment bumps into the unit, it can cause serious damage. Following the project, it’s a good idea to consider having your air ducts cleaned to remove the excess dust from your system.
Talk to Nardco Before Starting Your Home Remodel Project
Whether you decide you need a new HVAC system or not, the Nardco Heating and Air Conditioning team is happy to be a resource for planning your remodeling project. We’ll discuss your plans and call attention to potential issues and opportunities you may not have considered. That way, you may be able to accomplish even more and turn your familiar house into your dream home! Call us today for an estimate.
