Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or expanding the kitchen, having additional square footage in your house is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to think over the heating and cooling requirements of the new space. One of those factors should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Clearwater. Our guide will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Required
If the home addition involves enlarging a room instead of adding entirely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is often the situation if your heating and cooling units were too large when they were installed. Schedule a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Midway Services by calling 727-219-2471. This will determine if your present HVAC equipment can handle the changes you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Install a New HVAC System
Another idea for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your present forced-air unit. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new space.
Be aware that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The following increase in electricity consumption could even require an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this may be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than upgrading your existing system to manage the added area, you can add a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is placed on a slab outdoors, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek indoor blower that is placed to the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for continual comfort from a sole system.
Since it has a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, no ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing spaces in your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t absorb the additional space, and you’re not able to replace everything right now.
- The old and expanded spaces have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or extending the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is ideal, let Midway Services give our recommendations. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by doing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To get started, reach at 727-219-2471 to schedule an appointment right away!