Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest area or enlarging the kitchen, having additional 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 area. One of those considerations should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Hillsborough. Our guide will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Required
If the home addition includes enlarging an area as opposed to putting on totally new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is usually the situation if your heating and cooling equipment was too big when they were installed. Schedule a load calculation from a pro technician, such as one from Fras-Air/General Service Experts by calling 908-448-2154. This will affect if your present HVAC equipment can manage the modifications you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Replace Your HVAC System
Another solution for bringing heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your present forced-air equipment. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new room.
You should know that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity use might even require a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this could be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
Instead of getting a new equipment to manage the additional area, you can install a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing component that sits on cement near your home, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is installed against the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a sole solution.
Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, ductwork isn’t necessary. You can even link up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing areas in your home. A ductless mini-split might be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t handle the extra space, and you’re not prepared to replace it all today.
- The old and additional additions have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your home without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is a good match, let Fras-Air/General Service Experts provide our suggestions. We have years of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by doing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can give 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 start, contact us at 908-448-2154 to schedule an appointment today!