Should You Install a New HVAC System for a Home Addition?
Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your house is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to think over the heating and cooling necessities of the new room. One of those points should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Lauderdale. Our instructions will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Required
If the home addition includes expanding a room as opposed to adding totally new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the situation if your heating and cooling units were too large to begin with. Schedule a load calculation from an Expert technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 954-736-4314. This will figure out if your current HVAC system can take on the upgrades you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another idea for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your existing forced-air system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new area.
Be mindful that, adding ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to take care of the bigger load. The subsequent increase in electricity usage may even call for an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this may be a good solution.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of installing a new system to handle the extra area, you can add an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is placed on cement near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is installed against the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for all-season comfort from a single system.
Since it uses a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, you don’t need ductwork. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct spaces in your home. A ductless mini-split may be the best HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t absorb the added space, and you’re not prepared to replace everything today.
- The old and expanded additions have different heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your home without getting or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our advice. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll get started by conducting a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can give cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the options so you can make an informed decision. To get started, reach at 954-736-4314 to schedule an appointment right away!
