Remodeled Home HVAC: The Air Conditioner Nobody Consulted

Rough-in after framing and before insulation and drywall, with returns routed before cabinets. Bring the mechanical contractor in at the plan stage, not when the drywall is scheduled. Late HVAC is how registers end up in pantries.

Sometimes. The volume did not change much; the distribution did. Reworked supply runs and a larger return often get the existing equipment to cover the great room. If the remodel also added west glass, expect the answer to lean toward more capacity or a zone.

In Valley jurisdictions, equipment replacement and duct modifications generally require a mechanical permit with inspection. Your general contractor's building permit may or may not include it; ask. A permitted mechanical job protects warranty and resale.

Only if the math says so. If it is past mid-life and the load changed materially, the open walls make replacement cheaper now than later. If it is young and the load barely moved, keep it and fix the ducts. The repair-versus-replace guide lays out the reasoning.

Turn it off, seal every return grille with plastic, and do not allow the crew to run it as a fan. Change the filter and have the coil inspected when the dust settles. Drywall dust on an evaporator coil is a service call you can avoid.

Often, because the garage sits far from the trunk line and its load differs from the house. There is a dedicated comparison at mini-split versus extending ductwork.