Improving your home is one of the best feelings available to homeowners. Here in Northern Colorado, where property values seem to only surge upward, a renovation to improve your property can also pay exponential dividends down the line or save you from the hassle of upgrading your home prematurely.

It’s no surprise that many local homeowners choose to renovate their homes at some point. With all-time-low interest rates driving more mortgage refinancing-based home improvement projects than ever, now is a great time to consider a renovation.

If this sounds like you, just be sure to remember these 6 critical aspects surrounding your home’s HVAC amidst the project.

1 – Added Square Footage May Require Extra HVAC

Perhaps the most obvious and important aspect HVAC plays in renovations surrounds an addition to the home. After all, very few homeowners will want to add square footage to their homes in this part of the country without heating and cooling factored in. If you want to add the most value per new square footage to your home, it is almost a must to include new HVAC in the plans.

This could mean upgrading your current system by adding extra furnace or air conditioning units at the most, expanding ductwork to the new area at the least, and just about everything in between based on the scope of your HVAC system and the renovation project.

If you’re adding any square footage to your home, get in touch with the pros at Lion early to have an expert opinion on the requirements for heating, cooling, and ventilation that will pass inspection and create a great project from day one.

2 – Opening Walls Opens Up Opportunities

From the very first day of demolition work, you’ll likely find surprising things in your home’s walls. It’s not uncommon for contractors and DIY renovators alike to find “surprises” in the walls that could require re-routing or the need address in some other fashion.

In any case, finding something in a wall you didn’t expect during a renovation typically amounts to dollars lost.

However, there’s an incredible opportunity available here as well. This could be the perfect chance to upgrade your home’s ductwork or add-in that extra power outlet near the couch that you’ll be so glad you thought of ahead of time, to name a few.

Additionally, many Northern Colorado homes feature older baseboard or boiler-based heating systems, and a renovation grants the perfect chance to change that out for a central heating and cooling system, which many local homeowners prefer.

Rather than looking at your renovation as the path of least resistance to your initial vision, try to imagine the home you want to live in day-in and day-out and take this opportunity with open access to your home’s structural elements to make that happen!

3 – Consider Replacing Furnace or AC Units

There are very few times that are more convenient to consider upgrading that old furnace or AC unit than when you renovate or remodel your home. Even if your system will not need any upgraded output potential for new square footage, starting your new living space off fresh with a brand-new system may be worth considering.

Scheduling our furnace or air conditioning installation team to come in at the ideal time during your renovation means that you’ll have one less thing to worry about after the renovation concludes.

Additionally, if you’re using low-rate mortgage refinancing to access your home’s equity to fund your project, as many Northern Colorado families are these days, then seizing the chance to start with a new, warrantied furnace and air conditioning unit for your home protects you from unexpected repairs or replacements after the renovation.

4 – Check and Change Air Filters Often — Really Often

Even a minor home renovation — a live-through renovation, for instance — kicks up a ton of dust and debris that your HVAC system is simply not used to or built for taking in. One key place to keep a close eye on anytime your HVAC system runs during or after your renovation is your furnace’s air filter.

You’ll likely notice an immediate difference the first time you check your air filter during the renovation. If your system is running, it is likely that you’ll see thick layers of drywall dust, particles of debris, sawdust, and other unusual contaminants evident on your filters.

Any blockage of a furnace filter can cause your system to overwork, your air quality to go down, and a host of other, potentially expensive, damages. Expect to check your filter every couple of days during and after a renovation and keep a hefty stockpile of clean filters ready to swap out as your system pulls in and works through the dust and debris in your home.

5 – As the Dust Settles, Get the Ducts Cleaned

While duct cleaning is a relatively rare event for most homeowners — often ranging from every 2-4 years based on your living situation — a post-renovation home should get duct cleaning performed almost immediately after construction finishes.

As mentioned above, your air intake vents will collect a ton of dust and debris from your home’s renovation, even if the system isn’t engaged at all until after the renovation concludes.

The fine particles created from cutting, moving, and placing the building elements used in your project creates a unique challenge for your home’s ventilation. You’ll see evidence of this throughout the home: thick layers of dust atop door frames; a white powdery substance on winter coats; ceiling fans that let off a cloud when engaged; etc.

Just imagine how much dust accumulates in your forced-air ventilation system as the air cycles through your home. A single renovation can more than outweigh years of normal wear-and-tear on your ventilation system, especially if left uncleaned long afterward.

With a single duct cleaning from Lion Home Services, your ventilation system will run at full strength and remove the undue burden on your home’s furnace and AC.

6 – Set Up a Maintenance Plan

You’ll continue to see heavy, unusual dust in your furnace filters for quite a while after the construction is over. Rather than worrying about what toll that may be taking on your home’s HVAC systems, it’s best to set up a maintenance plan early and in advance to ensure your home’s furnace, air conditioning, and ventilation are not getting their lifespans cut short as a result of your project.

Trust the team at Lion Home Services to analyze and maintain your home’s HVAC after the renovation. We want you to enjoy your newly-improved home with safe, energy-efficient heating and cooling for years to come!