How Relocating Your HVAC Unit Can Benefit Your Life at Home
The idea of relocating your HVAC unit might sound strange at first. However, there are situations where this need does arise. A professional team of HVAC service professionals can assist you in moving your unit from one part of your property to another, more desirable location with the least amount of downtime.
Why Relocate Your HVAC Unit?
Nothing about your home is set in stone, including the location of your heating and air conditioning unit. The idea of moving your HVAC unit from one area of your property to another sounds strange, but it may prove necessary in order to accommodate changes made to your home over time.
Whether you plan to remodel your home or simply need more space for a new HVAC system installation, there are plenty of good reasons to relocate your HVAC unit.
1. Improved Aesthetics
Designed with function over form in mind, the average HVAC unit won’t win any beauty contests. Although you can use a variety of creative landscaping tricks to blend your HVAC unit into its surroundings, relocating your HVAC unit may be the only option if it sticks out like a sore thumb.
In many cases, you can improve your home’s curb appeal by relocating the unit from the side of your home to the rear. It becomes less visible from the street and can be easily reinstalled from the back of your home.
2. Improved Access
Another good reason to relocate your HVAC unit is to make it easier for technicians to reach it for service and repairs. A hard-to-access HVAC unit can prove frustrating for technicians to work on, and the time and effort required can cause your labor costs to skyrocket. Moving your HVAC unit to a more accessible location also makes cleaning and debris prevention easier.
Oftentimes, difficult-to-reach HVAC units are located behind or underneath plants in your backyard. You shouldn’t have to worry about uprooting or cutting down trees and bushes when moving the unit is the fastest, simplest, and most cost-effective solution.
3. New System With Larger Footprint
If you’re planning to upgrade your HVAC system, you may discover that the new unit has a much larger footprint than your current equipment. As a result, you may not be able to install your new HVAC unit in the same location as its predecessor.
Relocating your HVAC unit makes it easier to install upsized equipment to keep up with your home’s ever-changing heating and cooling needs. With the aid of professional technicians, closing off your old connection points and installing new ones can be completed rather quickly, safely, and efficiently.
4. Room for Home Addition
Whether you’re adding on a new room or expanding your current living space, the last thing you want is for your HVAC unit to get in the way of your remodeling efforts. Relocating your HVAC unit ensures that your home has room to grow.
A professional HVAC service company can assist you with easily moving the unit, even if you need this done more than once. Sometimes, during a remodel, renovation, or expansion, you may want to move the unit during construction and then relocate it again once the project is completed.
5. Noise Reduction
Noise is one of the most common complaints that homeowners have with their HVAC systems. Although today’s HVAC units are designed to operate as quietly as possible, these units still generate a noticeable amount of noise. Moving your current HVAC unit a few feet away from your home may offer a significant reduction in unwanted noise.
Don’t forget that you can calm a noisy HVAC unit in other ways too. Some noise issues can be solved simply through regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance. Before considering relocation, have your HVAC technician diagnose the unit for common HVAC noise sources, including damaged fan blades and motors in need of lubrication.
6. Reduced Theft Risk
A serious issue for homeowners in the Boise area is copper theft from HVAC units. Someone looking to steal copper components from your system may try to do so at night or when you are not home. This can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your equipment.
In most cases, thieves identify potential units to steal copper from just by seeing them from the street. If the unit is unprotected and in plain view, this creates a prime opportunity. While we can also fence in our unit, install motion sensors and GPS equipment, the best way to protect your HVAC system is to relocate it.
7. New Fencing
Sometimes, your HVAC unit simply gets in the way of other home improvement projects you have in mind. This is rather common when homeowners want to install new fencing. If the unit is close to your property line or near where you want to install a gate, this can create a headache for many.
Rather than spending the time and money figuring out a way to work around the location of your HVAC unit, you can simply relocate it and save yourself the hassle. We recommend that you move the unit first before beginning your fence installation project.
8. New Patio, Porch, or Deck
HVAC units are commonly placed next to the back or side of your home. As it turns out, patios, porches, and decks are also commonly installed in these areas. Your unit’s existing location should not stand in the way of your building plans when it can be easily relocated.
As with installing new fences, it is best to relocate your HVAC before building out your new deck, porch, or patio. This can be done quickly and easily with the help of professional service technicians.
9. Installing a Pool or Hot Tub
Are you looking to add a pool or hot tub to your property? This could be another reason to relocate your HVAC unit. In most cases, hot tubs are installed near the home on a deck or patio. Some homeowners also choose to build their deck or patio around their pool.
Above-ground pools also require additional equipment like ladders, an external pump, and a nearby electrical connection. If your HVAC unit is in the way, it makes more sense to move it to another location on your property rather than rethink your entire pool or hot tub installation plan.
10. Land Erosion
Erosion problems caused by stormwater runoff can make the ground underneath your HVAC unit unstable and prone to a possible collapse. Erosion can also cause the unit’s concrete pad to crack or buckle, denying it a safe, level operating surface. To keep your HVAC unit and its refrigerant lines from being damaged, you may need to relocate the unit to a more stable location.
Here are some signs of land erosion to watch out for:
- Puddles forming near your unit where level dirt used to be
- Cracks and gullies create a miniature river-like pattern through your soil
- Exposed edges of concrete pads and nearby cracking
- Erosion prevention materials begin to wash away
Soil erosion can both damage your HVAC system and your property value. It is important to not only move your unit to a safer location on your property but also to contact a contractor who can help you install erosion control equipment at your home.
11. Code Compliance
Changes in municipal building codes may force you to move your HVAC unit to stay in compliance. You could also have a non-compliant HVAC unit after purchasing an older or antique home. Depending on local regulations, not relocating your unit could result in fines that quickly add up well beyond the cost of moving your equipment.
If you are unsure about your HVAC unit’s compliance, you can always call your municipal code enforcement office. They can advise you over the phone or visit your property to inspect the unit’s placement in person.
Because code enforcers will usually give you a time frame to relocate your HVAC unit, you should contact a professional as soon as possible to avoid any possible fines. This will ensure that your home is compliant and it will also give you an opportunity to move your unit to a more desirable location on your property.
Get Help Relocating Your HVAC Unit in Treasure Valley, Idaho
Keep in mind that HVAC relocation isn’t something you should do yourself, no matter how handy you are with tools. Moving most HVAC units requires a full drawdown and storage of your system’s refrigerant — a task that requires special tools and training to safely complete.
In short, you’re better off leaving the relocation in the hands of seasoned professionals. Having a team of certified technicians handle your HVAC equipment will prevent any potential damage caused by a do-it-yourself relocation, keep your refrigerant intact, and ensure a safe and compliant reconnection of your unit to your home.
If you ever need to relocate your heating and air conditioning unit, get in touch with the experts at Advanced Heating & Cooling today. We install all of our new HVAC equipment according to the latest municipal building codes.
We proudly serve the Treasure Valley region of Idaho, including Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Caldwell, Eagle, and the surrounding areas. Want to get started on relocating your own HVAC unit? Schedule an appointment with us at any time.
