Why You Should Plan HVAC During New Home Construction

Breaking ground on your future house is a dream come true! Choose the floor plans, room layouts, and other features, and watch how these elements come together to accommodate your lifestyle rather than some stranger’s big idea. However, one of the oft-forgotten but essential aspects of new home construction is a residential HVAC plan that suits your needs.

A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling’s HVAC contractors in Louisville, KY, agree that this isn’t the most glamorous part of the construction process. However, it is absolutely crucial, as the installed HVAC system will impact your health and comfort all through the passing years in your new home. 

Below, we’ve outlined what a well-crafted HVAC plan might look like.  

What Should Your Louisville Residential HVAC Plan Involve?

If you’re looking at blueprints, you’ll quickly discover that HVAC integration can become quite a complex process. As a start, you will need to figure out:

• Which system works best for the house’s architecture
• How the new system can work efficiently
• How to budget for the HVAC plan
• When to build and install the new system

Remember, each detail of this residential HVAC plan will dictate your future home’s comfort, air quality, and efficiency. With Louisville, Kentucky’s hot, humid summers and below-zero winters, you won’t want to miscalculate.

Budget Considerations

You may already know that a quality HVAC system with expert installation services isn’t cheap. However, a compromise could permanently influence how you feel in your own house for decades to come. A poorly thought-out HVAC plan can:

• Lead to excess indoor moisture. Household dampness encourages mold growth and gradually weakens interior structures.
• Make housekeeping a more demanding chore. Poor HVAC function recirculates dust and debris, forcing you to dust and vacuum more often. 
• Raise your monthly expenses. You’ll pay more to keep up with utility bills and repair costs with an inefficient HVAC system. 
• Curtail your comfort and health. If you can’t feel comfortable and safe in your own home, your mental and physical well-being will suffer. 

When you plan for your new HVAC system, start by identifying the systems that best match your construction project. 

Best Types of Systems for Your Residential Building

Modern home heating systems come in several varieties now. Common examples of residential HVAC systems include:

• Forced-air: Central heating and air systems push air through ducts to vents in each room. They work well for large houses with multiple stories. 
• Heat pumps: The system rolls heating and cooling capabilities into one machine. If you want an energy-efficient system to warm and cool your home no matter the season, you’ll love heat pumps. 
• Ductless: Ductless options are perfect for small buildings or areas separate from the original house’s HVAC.
• Radiant: Radiant HVAC systems absorb heat to cool and circulate heat to warm up. Typically, they feature pipe networks that snake through a house, not ductwork. 

Once you know more about your comfort and space preferences, look at Seasonal Energy Efficiency (SEER rating) and system sizing recommendations. How many British Thermal Units or BTUs do you need to cover your household’s heating and cooling requirements?

Plan Implementation at the Correct Time

Your residential HVAC plan really takes flight during the rough-in phase of the construction project. This step happens after the builders erect and secure the framing but before drywall and other materials enclose things. At this point, the builders confirm blueprints for your new home’s plumbing, electrical, and HVAC accommodations.

Importantly, each network should prioritize local building codes compliance. Although many construction companies can pencil in locations for unit and ductwork installation, it is safer to implement recommendations from experienced HVAC technicians who know what to avoid.

Working With a Reputable HVAC Company

Nobody understands professional installation services quite like an experienced HVAC company. Businesses like A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling have overseen numerous installation projects, including those that start from scratch. 

These experienced HVAC contractors can:

• Save space by making plumbing and ducts work together.
• Suggest thermostat, vent, and unit locations for optimal zoning. 
• Recommend supplemental comfort systems for larger homes.
• Assist with choosing insulation and other energy-efficient solutions. 

Sure, your trusted construction crew has general building experience. However, HVAC contractors have niche knowledge about what works long-term.

Considering Adjacent Efficiency Qualities

Not all HVAC equipment accommodates separate zones, which is particularly important if you’re building a new ranch-style or multi-story house. What exactly do zoning systems do to enhance comfort and energy efficiency? Think about these natural factors that affect indoor comfort:

• The sun’s position: The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. A sprawling ranch-style can house different temperatures throughout the day because of this fact. 
• The presence of shade: You might have dense shade on one side of your home that doesn’t exist on the other. Shady trees, much like the sun’s changing position, can make one end of your home much cooler than the other. 
• How cool and warm air move: If you’re building a multi-story home, you’ll quickly notice that cool air sinks while warm air rises. The uppermost story can feel too hot during summer but still comfortable in winter without proper HVAC zoning. 
• Thermostat placement: The ideal spot for a thermostat is in the middle of the story or house section and away from any sunlight filtering through. However, outdoor elements can still influence its temperature readings. 

Modern zoning balances these issues and ensures each area of your home maintains the same temperature throughout the day.

Integrating Smart Technology

One of the most exciting parts about building a new home is specifically accommodating up-and-coming technology into the design. For instance, smart technology requires particular accommodations and equipment to customize and automate your household preferences. However, doing so streamlines your daily routine while conserving household energy. 

Create the Perfect HVAC Strategy With a Little Help From A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling in Louisville, Kentucky

Need help developing your residential HVAC plan? Let A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling recommend and install your new HVAC system once home construction is underway in Louisville, Kentucky. Call 502-708-2247 to discuss what you’d like to see in your new home. 

Our contractors can work with the construction crew.