Should You Install a New HVAC System for a Home Addition?
Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or expanding the kitchen, having extra square footage in your house is sure to prove useful. Just don’t forget to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new space. One of those points should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in the U.S.. Our guide will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition calls for enlarging a room instead of adding totally new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is often the situation if your heating and cooling system was oversized originally. Get a load calculation from an Expert technician, such as one from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing by calling 866-397-3787. This will figure out if your existing HVAC setup can manage the changes you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your existing forced-air unit. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new area.
Be mindful that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to manage the bigger load. The subsequent increase in electricity use could even need a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this might be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of installing a new unit to cover the added square footage, you can get an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is installed on the ground outdoors, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is placed against the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for continual comfort from one system.
Since it includes a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, no ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different spaces in your home. A ductless mini-split might be the ideal HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t handle the added space, and you’re not ready to replace every part right now.
- The old and new spaces have different heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your residence without getting or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing offer our recommendations. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
Let us start by performing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll present you with all the options so you can make a wise decision. To begin, contact us at 866-397-3787 to schedule an appointment right away!