Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest space or expanding the kitchen, having more square footage in your house is sure to be convenient. Just keep in mind you need to think over the heating and cooling needs of the new space. One of those points should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Longmont. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition includes growing a space as opposed to putting on completely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the case if your heating and cooling system was oversized to begin with. Book a load calculation from a pro technician, like one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 303-647-5749. This will decide if your existing HVAC setup can manage the modifications you’ve made to your residence.
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 present forced-air unit. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new room.
Be mindful that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you might also have to put in HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity usage could even call for an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this may be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than getting a new system to cover the additional space, you can get a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They use two parts. There’s a condensing component that is placed on cement near your home, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that is installed on the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer 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 add up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t absorb the additional room, and you’re not prepared to replace everything right away.
- The old and additional spaces have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your residence without getting or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is best, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our recommendations. We have years of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process by performing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll present you with all the solutions so you can make an informed decision. To get started, reach at 303-647-5749 to schedule an appointment right away!