Remodeling

When remodeling your Missoula, MT, home—whether it’s a full kitchen renovation or a small addition—most homeowners focus first on colors and finishes. But to ensure long-term comfort and efficiency, it’s essential to consider your HVAC system early in the process.

Upgrading outdated equipment during a remodel can improve comfort and lead to significant energy savings. At Design Air, we’ve seen firsthand how homeowners appreciate the difference when HVAC is part of the plan from the start. It’s a smart step that helps make your remodel a lasting success.

Should I Replace My HVAC Equipment?

Many people don't consider upgrading, or retrofitting, their residential HVAC equipment during a remodel. Instead they assume they should simply wait til their equipment fails to replace it, thinking this allows them to get the most money from their original purchase. But in most remodel cases, this is an expensive miscalculation.

If you're planning an addition, you need to think about the extra heating and cooling needs that addition will need. Our experienced professionals can tell you that your current equipment was originally purchased with the needs of your current square footage in mind. Attempting to use them to heat and/or cool additional square footage will result in less comfort throughout the rest of your home. It will also mean more expensive energy bills, as your system will need to work harder and continually to attempt to meet the needs of your addition.

Or maybe your HVAC ductwork is original to your home. According to ENERGY STAR®, most homes with forced-air heating and cooling systems lose 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through their ductwork. The cause is leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. A remodeling project is the perfect time to either seal your ductwork or to replace it all together if that's what's needed. Saved energy equals saved money.

So if a remodel is in your future, or if you've already started a project, here are a few upgrade recommendations our professionals offer to get you started:

• Addition -- furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, ductless mini-split, ductwork (both installation and resealing), venting, supply lines
• Living room/family room -- gas fireplaces (conversions, updates on current piping), ductwork
• Bedrooms -- ductwork, venting
• Kitchen -- gas piping (stoves, cooktops, ovens), cooking range/hood venting, supply lines
• Bathroom -- fan venting
• Basement -- furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, ductless mini-split, ductwork (both installation and resealing), venting, supply lines
• Garage -- furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, ductless mini-split, ductwork (both installation and resealing), venting, supply lines
• Laundry room -- gas piping (dryer)

When to Think About HVAC

Our HVAC experts have seen many scenarios when it comes to remodeling homes. All projects--from running a supply line to updating your bathroom to adding on a mother-in-law suite--require putting your home's HVAC needs on the top of your list to ensure five-star success. Why? Because if you wait to simply tack on your HVAC needs until you're already in the midst of your walls being reconstructed or floors being redone, adding new ductwork at this point is more reactive than proactive and limits your options. This, in turn, typically results in either or both higher costs or not the best solution for the situation.

Planning from the beginning allows you to choose the equipment or materials that would best suit your project, and then we can work with you or your contractor to implement these items into your overall plan.

At Design Air, we pride ourselves on helping homeowners complete their remodeling projects right the first time. Our knowledgeable and experienced professionals understand the keys to a successful remodel are proper planning and the having the best HVAC team by your side. Call us at 406-251-7997 to help you make your remodeling plans a reality.