Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest suite or expanding the kitchen, having extra square footage in your residence is sure to be handy. Just remember to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new room. One of those considerations should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Cleveland. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes growing an area as opposed to 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 equipment was oversized when they were installed. Request a load calculation from an Expert technician, like one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 440-252-1375. This will affect if your present HVAC setup can manage the changes you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: Install a New HVAC System
Another option for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your existing forced-air equipment. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new space.
Bear in mind that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity use may even call for an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of upgrading your existing equipment to handle the additional area, you can put in a stand-alone one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on cement near your home, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact 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 one piece of equipment.
Since it has 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 distinct spaces in your residence. A ductless mini-split could be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the extra area, and you’re not able to replace every part today.
- The old and additional spaces have different heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is a good match, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning give our recommendations. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process by conducting a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can give cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the solutions so you can make a smart decision. To start, call at 440-252-1375 to schedule an appointment now!