The decision to renovate or remodel a home is a big one. It will disrupt your everyday life and cause inconvenience until the work is complete. We don’t realize that the remodeling project will also raise a lot of dust and debris. In homes equipped with an HVAC unit, it means the time has come to take extra care of the system. The dust storm the renovation will create will be taxing on the heating and cooling unit. Hence, you need to plan ahead and ensure that your HVAC system does not suffer in the wake of all the changes that will be happening soon. Today, we dedicate this post to homes that are soon going to start with remodeling. All we request is in the midst of it, don’t forget your HVAC system.
Protecting The HVAC System
The biggest enemies of any HVAC system are dust, dirt, and debris. They fly everywhere and settle inside the system. Slowly their buildup increases until these minuscule culprits start interfering with the unit’s smooth functioning. Therefore, protecting the HVAC system during remodeling is essential. Here are a few basic steps one can undertake to protect their residential heating and cooling system:
1. Shut Down The HVAC System – If your residence is not zoned, it is best to completely turn off the HVAC system. In the zoning case, switch off the heating and cooling of the zone where the remodeling work is underway. If you keep the unit running, it will suck in a lot of air pollutants along with dirt, saw particles, etc. These will either deposit inside the ductwork or somewhere in the HVAC system. Their buildup will also happen fast due to work happening indoors. In the end, your HVAC system will be put under a lot of strain, and also the indoor air quality will deteriorate. Switching off the unit will ensure there is no circulation of air from the area where work is being done.
2. Close Vents And Registers – Close the vents and registers of the area where the work is done. It will prevent the dust and other particles from finding their way inside the ducts. With no excessive foreign particles or contaminants settling in the ductwork, you will not have to think of duct cleaning unnecessarily.
3. All Tasks That Generate Particle Matter To Be Completed Outside – Consult with the contractor who is involved in the renovation to do all the tasks that are likely to generate dust or saw outside the home. During any renovation project, there will be wood to saw, tiles, and planks to cut, pipes to resize, etc. All of these activities will raise a lot of particle matter. Completing such tasks outdoors is the best way to keep indoors as clean as possible under the circumstances.
4. Cordon Off The Area Where Renovation Is Happening – All tasks related to remodeling cannot happen outdoors. Some things like breaking down a wall to open up space or taking out the floor to lay a new one, etc., will still happen inside. These activities again will raise a duct storm. So the best thing one can do is limit the spread of the materials by cordoning off the work area. Use protective covers like tarps to close off the area where construction is happening from the rest of your dwelling.
5. Clean The Work Area Every Day Once Work Is Over – At the end of each day’s work, ask the contractor to clean up the area before calling it a night. This way, nobody will accidentally track all the dust and debris throughout the house. Also, cleaning up at the end of the day’s work will allow you to switch on the HVAC system without any worries until the work starts anew on the next day.
6. Change Air Filters More Often – While the work is in progress, keep a hawk-eye on the condition of the air filters. Change them often if necessary. Don’t allow the filters to get clogged. Clogged air filters will only make the work of your HVAC system difficult. Under such stressful conditions, continuing to operate the unit will only lead to faults and malfunctions. A small step like frequent changing of the air filters will go a long way in keeping your residential heating and cooling unit stress-free.
The Remodeling Is Complete. Now What?
Once the remodeling is complete, ask your local HVAC technician to inspect your unit along with the ductwork. This way, you will know for sure that your system is in good condition despite all the breaking and making that has been happening the past few days. This option is good only if you have not added more area to your home.
If the remodeling was to add a new room or increase the square footage of the home, you should ask the HVAC technician to calculate the size of the heating and cooling unit as per the new area. In case your existing system will suffice, well and good. If not, you may want to discuss the options available. There are a couple of things you could do based on your budget and inclination, like:
1. Install a new HVAC system that will easily fulfill the demands of your newly renovated home.
2. Get your home zoned if you did not do it until now, and make changes accordingly.
3. Buy and install a window AC or a mini-split system for the remodeled area.
Bottomline
The time of remodeling is a very critical time for the HVAC system. If due care is not exercised to ensure the unit does not suffer unnecessarily, you are more likely to foot bills for repairs easily avoidable. Hence, do not take the system for granted. Thankfully, the care one needs to take is simple and will not cause any major inconvenience. If in doubt about things, consult your HVAC technician.
If you have recently remodeled your West Palm Beach home, contact Aztil Air Conditioning to inspect and maintain your HVAC system. We have been a premier HVAC contractor serving South Florida since 1981. To book an appointment, call +1-888-729-845.
