Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your home is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to think over the heating and cooling needs of the new area. One of those points should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Edmonton. Our guidebook will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition involves expanding a space rather than building completely 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 originally. Schedule a load calculation from an Expert technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 587-404-0790. This will determine if your current HVAC equipment can handle the changes you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another option for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your existing forced-air equipment. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new area.
Be mindful that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to put in HVAC equipment to take care of the higher load. The resulting increase in electricity use might even call for an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this could be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than installing a new equipment to cover the extra area, you can put in a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing component that is placed on the ground outside, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the space-saving indoor blower that is installed against the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for all-season comfort from a sole setup.
Since it uses a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even join up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct spaces in your house. A ductless mini-split may be the ideal HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the added square footage, and you’re not able to replace every part today.
- The old and expanded rooms have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning provide our suggestions. We have years of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by doing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can provide cost comparisons for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the possibilities so you can make an informed decision. To start, contact us at 587-404-0790 to schedule an appointment today!