Should You Upgrade Your HVAC System for a Home Addition? 

Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or expanding the kitchen, having more square footage in your home is sure to be convenient. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling necessities of the new space. One of those factors should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in the U.S.. Our guidebook will help you as you begin the process.

Option 1: No Upgrade Needed

If the home addition calls for growing a room as opposed to adding totally new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is often the case if your heating and cooling equipment was too big originally. Request a load calculation from an Expert technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing by calling 866-397-3787. This will decide if your present HVAC setup can manage the upgrades you’ve made to your home.

Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System

Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your current forced-air system. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new room.

Be mindful that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you may also have to add HVAC equipment to handle the bigger load. The resulting increase in electricity use may even call for an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this could be a good solution.

Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split

Instead of getting a new system to handle the extra space, you can put in a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing component that sits on cement outdoors, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that is installed on the ceiling or wall.

Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a single solution.

Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different areas in your house. A ductless mini-split could be the best HVAC system for your home addition if:

• • Your present system can’t absorb the extra area, and you’re not able to replace every part right now.

• • The old and expanded spaces have varying heating and cooling needs.

• • You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or adding on to the ductwork.

If you need help deciding which HVAC option is best, let Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing give our suggestions. We have years of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.

We’ll get started by performing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can give cost breakdowns 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 smart decision. To begin, contact us at 866-397-3787 to schedule an appointment today!