Whether you want to add on to your Colorado home, finish the basement, or change the interior floor plan, you likely want the best possible results for your investment. This may include giving attention to your furnace before, during, and after the remodeling project. Learn what every homeowner should consider to protect their furnace and extend its life.
Before Your Renovation
Start preparing for a comfortable future by including an HVAC professional during the planning stages of the remodel. Changes to the home’s walls, floors, ceilings, and layout can easily get in the way of HVAC system components like ducting. And where it doesn’t actually block or relocate these components, it may still affect how well they function. These are details that a general contractor may not fully know.
Also discuss how the new floor plan will affect the furnace’s ability to heat your home properly. The addition or removal of walls changes how air and heat flow through the house. And finishing a basement or installing a home addition both mean the furnace must heat a larger space. If your current unit isn’t up to the task, it will work too hard to heat things and could burn out faster.
If a different furnace — larger, upgraded, or perhaps smaller — is necessary, talk with both contractors about when to install it. Depending on how much the renovation may affect the system, they could advise replacing your unit before or after the rest of the work is complete. After all, you don’t want to tear up any of your brand new drywall, electrical work, or flooring if it’s in the way of the new furnace’s needs.
During Your Renovation
A big remodel project is a messy process. That mess can damage the furnace and its materials. Come up with a plan to help protect it and minimize debris, dust, and accidents.
The HVAC professional may recommend covering vents to reduce the amount of material that gets into these as well as turning off the furnace during actual work. This is challenging for projects happening during the Colorado winter, so make a plan in advance to ensure the work can happen safely and your family can still live comfortably.
The renovation contractor can also help protect the HVAC system by putting up dust and debris barriers when possible. These removable plastic protectors curtail both large and small particles from drifting around the house and into machinery. And handle the messiest parts of construction outside the house or in areas away from the furnace and other HVAC components.
Check on the furnace as construction continues. Ensure that it remains safe during demolition and isn’t damaged by flying debris or accidents. But also take the time to clean around it, including vacuuming and dusting so nothing builds up to clog the system. In fact, regular cleaning throughout the house will protect the furnace’s function.
After Your Renovation
Once the project is done, have a professional check your furnace and entire system. They will inspect the condition of ducts and equipment, verifying that everything is in safe, working order. You may also need some extra checkups to clean the system more than once. As mentioned, large-scale renovations are messy work, and that mess can hang around for longer than expected.
No matter what stage of renovation planning you’re in, now is the best time to meet with a skilled HVAC professional to protect your furnace. Steele Brothers Heating, Inc., can help. We’ve assisted many of your Denver area neighbors with their remodeling plans, and we can help you too. Make an appointment to discuss your plans and concerns today.
