All too often, when homeowners decide to remodel, their HVAC system is the last thing on their minds. Ironically, care of the HVAC unit should be one of the first items that you think of when remodeling a home. There are many things that could happen during a remodel that could have an adverse effect on the operation of your HVAC unit. For this reason, it is important to note a few HVAC tips before remodeling. 
Do You Need to Update Your Current HVAC Unit?
Often, when a home is being remodeled, there is an expansion of some sort. Perhaps a few bedrooms are added. In some cases, a kitchen is enlarged, or a patio is closed off and made into a sun-room, or maybe a basement is re-purposed into a “man cave,” family entertainment room, or den. In all of these cases, the homeowner’s current HVAC system will likely need to be expanded in order to heat and cool the new parts of the home.
It is a good idea to have a licensed contractor come to your home and have a look at your current HVAC system to determine whether or not you will need to update it, make it larger, or just protect it during the remodel. Will you need to have more duct work added to your current HVAC system? Is there enough power in the current system to cool the entire home after the remodel? What can you do to make sure that your unit is protected during the remodeling project?
Protecting the HVAC System
There are several steps to take in order to make sure that your HVAC system is protected during a remodeling project. First of all, do not run your AC while the remodeling project is ongoing. Although it can get very hot in Southern California, especially in the Los Angeles area and the San Fernando Valley, it is vital that you turn off the AC while contractors are in your home to remodel it. You should also cover all the vents to your HVAC unit. This will keep dust from entering the unit.
No matter how hard you try to keep dust out of the HVAC unit, some dust will enter anyway during a remodeling project. Because of this, it is very important that you change air filters more often during construction. While your home is being remodeled, you will want to check your air filters more frequently than you normally would and change them any time when they start looking dirty. Keeping the air filters clean will help your HVAC unit work better and longer.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to make sure that your HVAC unit will be able to handle cooling your entire home once the remodel is finished. An inspection from a licensed HVAC contractor before remodeling can help take care of this. You also need to protect the unit during remodeling to make sure that sawdust and grime do not damage it. A licensed contractor should inspect the HVAC unit after the remodeling as well to ensure that everything is functioning properly. Follow these tips, and your HVAC unit should work great.