One thing created during home remodeling is dust, and there can be a lot of it. This will cause problems for your HVAC system if you don’t take protective steps beforehand. Here is what you should do.
Seal Work Areas with Plastic Tarps
By limiting dust to individual work areas and then cleaning the areas thoroughly afterward, you will reduce the dust that contaminates the rest of the house. This means less will find its way into your heating and cooling system. You’ll also safeguard air quality.
Plastic tarps work well for this purpose because they are easy to tape over doorways or between wall joists, and plastic allows light to shine through while providing a sufficient dust barrier. Place mats on thresholds so that workers can wipe dust from their shoes.
When possible, take certain projects, such as sanding boards and cutting tile, outdoors to avoid releasing the resulting dust inside the home.
Shut it Down
During projects that produce a lot of dust, such as tearing down walls, performing drywall work or sanding, turn off the HVAC system until the dust has cleared. This prevents the dust from being sucked into the unit.
Close and Cover Vents
Even when the system is shut off, small particles of debris from remodeling can enter air vents and contaminate ductwork and inner components of the HVAC system, such as the air handler. If this happens, you will need to shell out cash to get it all cleaned or risk a system breakdown. Avoid this headache by closing vents and then covering them with plastic. Just remember to uncover and open vents when you turn on your HVAC system again.
Change the HVAC Filter
Check your HVAC filter more frequently during home remodeling. This will help you get a better idea of how well your efforts at protecting the system have been, and changing the filter when it is dirty will keep more dust from contaminating the system.
For more about protecting and caring for your HVAC system, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC system protection and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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