Should You Get a New HVAC System for a Home Addition?
Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having additional square footage in your residence is sure to be convenient. Just remember to think over the heating and cooling necessities of the new room. One of those factors should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Lauderdale. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes growing a room rather than building entirely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too big when they were installed. Book a load calculation from a pro technician, such as one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 954-736-4314. This will determine if your present HVAC system can handle the changes you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another idea for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your current forced-air equipment. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new area.
Be aware that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The subsequent increase in electricity consumption could even call for an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this might be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of installing a new unit to handle the extra space, you can install a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing system that is installed on a slab near your home, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the space-saving indoor blower that mounts against the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for continuous comfort from a single solution.
Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, you don’t need ductwork. You can even link up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct areas in your house. A ductless mini-split may be the ideal HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t take on the extra area, and you’re not ready to replace it all today.
- The old and additional additions have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without installing or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is best, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning give our recommendations. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
We’ll start the process by conducting a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can provide cost comparisons for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. putting in a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the options so you can make a wise decision. To begin, contact us at 954-736-4314 to schedule an appointment today!