Should You Get a New HVAC System for a Home Addition?
Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest area or enlarging the kitchen, having additional square footage in your house is sure to be convenient. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new room. One of those points should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in the U.S.. Our guidebook will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes growing a space as opposed to putting on completely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is often the situation if your heating and cooling system was too big originally. Get a load calculation from a pro technician, such as one from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing by calling 866-397-3787. This will figure out if your current HVAC system can manage the upgrades you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your current forced-air equipment. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new area.
You should know that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to put in HVAC equipment to manage the bigger load. The ensuing increase in electricity use might even call for a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of getting a new equipment to cover the additional space, you can put in a stand-alone one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing component that is installed on a slab outdoors, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is placed on the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for constant comfort from one system.
Since it includes a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even join up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct spaces in your home. A ductless mini-split may be the best HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t absorb the added space, and you’re not ready to replace it all right away.
- The old and expanded rooms have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing give our suggestions. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by doing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can provide cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. putting in a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the solutions so you can make a smart decision. To begin, call at 866-397-3787 to schedule an appointment now!
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