Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest area or expanding the kitchen, having more square footage in your residence is sure to be convenient. Just don’t forget to think over the heating and cooling needs of the new space. One of those factors should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in the Wasatch Front region. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition calls for enlarging a room rather than putting on totally new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is usually the situation if your heating and cooling units were too large originally. Book a load calculation from a pro technician, like one from Barlow Service Experts by calling 801-436-8985. This will affect if your existing HVAC system can handle the modifications you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Replace Your HVAC System
Another option for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your present forced-air equipment. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new space.
Be mindful that, adding ductwork or water piping, you may also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The resulting increase in electricity consumption could even require an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this could be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than upgrading your existing equipment to handle the extra space, you can put in a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing system that is installed on the ground outside, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that mounts to the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for continuous comfort from a sole setup.
Since it links with a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, ductwork isn’t necessary. You can even add up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different areas in your home. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the additional room, and you’re not ready to replace everything today.
- The old and expanded additions have different heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your house without getting or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is ideal, let Barlow Service Experts give our advice. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by doing 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 present you with all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To begin, contact us at 801-436-8985 to schedule an appointment today!