Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest space or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your residence is sure to prove useful. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new room. One of those points should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Kingwood. Our guide will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition involves expanding an area rather than adding entirely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is usually the situation if your heating and cooling equipment was too large originally. Get a load calculation from a pro technician, such as one from Finch Air Conditioning & Heating by calling 281-407-9478. This will decide if your present HVAC setup can manage the changes you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Install a New 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 system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new room.
Be aware that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you may also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the higher load. The subsequent increase in electricity consumption may even call for a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this may be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of getting a new equipment to handle the added area, you can put in a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing component that is placed on a slab near your home, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is installed to the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for continuous comfort from a sole setup.
Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, no 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 best HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t absorb the added square footage, and you’re not able to replace everything right now.
- The old and expanded spaces have different heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your residence without getting or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is ideal, let Finch Air Conditioning & Heating offer our recommendations. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by doing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. putting in a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the possibilities so you can make a smart decision. To begin, reach at 281-407-9478 to schedule an appointment today!