Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest area or enlarging the kitchen, having extra square footage in your residence is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to think over the heating and cooling needs of the new area. One of those considerations should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Melbourne. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Required
If the home addition includes growing an area rather than building completely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the situation if your heating and cooling equipment was too large to begin with. Get a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 321-428-7635. This will figure out if your existing HVAC setup can manage the upgrades you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another idea for bringing heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your existing forced-air system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new space.
Please note that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you might also have to install HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity consumption may even need a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this may be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than getting a new unit to manage the added square footage, you can put in an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is placed on a slab outdoors, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that mounts against the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for all-season comfort from a single piece of equipment.
Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t handle the added square footage, and you’re not able to replace every part today.
- The old and new spaces have different heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or extending the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is best, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning provide our advice. We have years of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by completing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can give cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To get started, contact us at 321-428-7635 to schedule an appointment right away!