Deciding to add an addition to your home or simply remodel an existing structure can be an exhilarating experience. However, it’s important to note that planning goes a long way in ensuring the remodel or addition goes smoothly. One important area that is often neglecting is your HVAC system and the impact it can have in the overall outcome of that remodel. Here are some things to consider.
Protecting Your Existing HVAC System
When you’re remodeling your home, there’s inevitably going to be some dust in the process. This dust can get trapped in your ductwork and make your HVAC system less efficient. You should prepare to protect your HVAC system with a few of these great suggestions:
- Have the contractor create a negative airflow environment or Negative Pressure Ventilation (NPV) in the room that they’re working in. This way, the dust doesn’t get thrown throughout the rest of your home. NPV is the extraction of air from a structure with suction techniques. NPV uses a combination of a window box fan and sealing off all door openings.
- You should have all the registers closed and taped up tight so that no dust from the remodeling project can enter your ducting. Be careful with the number of registers that you do tape off as it could greatly decrease the efficiency of your system while in use.
Determining How To Attach To Your Existing System
When adding your new addition to your home you’re likely going to want to heat and cool it in the future. This requires you to understand how your new addition is going to tie into your existing HVAC system or determine if you need to add a new system. In most cases, an HVAC professional can help you to determine if your existing HVAC system can handle the increased load and how the ductwork will line up to expand into the new addition. In some cases, you may have to either update your existing system or purchase a supplementary one to have centralized air in the additional space.
Deciding If You Want A New Ductless System
You may find that the existing ductwork of your home is going to be difficult to tap into with your new addition or too costly to redesign or add onto. In this case, you may find that installing a ductless system might be a better option. This can give you the freedom to install the wall units where you see fit without having to run exposed ducting throughout your new addition. If you’re unsure if one of these ductless systems is the right choice for you, our HVAC professionals are available for FREE in-home estimates and can assist you in determining what the right approach is for your new home addition.
When it comes to remodeling or adding an addition to your home, your HVAC system is something that you need to consider throughout the whole process. Our trained professionals at Christian Heating and Air Conditioning can help you to decide how to heat and cool your new space, provide options and give you some great tips on how to protect your existing system during the remodeling process. Give us a call today at (215) 488-5795.
