Should You Install a New HVAC System for a Home Addition?
Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest space or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your home is sure to prove useful. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling necessities of the new space. One of those points should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Louisville. Our instructions will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes enlarging a room rather than building entirely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is usually the instance if your heating and cooling units were oversized to begin with. Schedule a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Becht/Givens Service Experts by calling 502-785-8230. This will determine if your current HVAC equipment can take on the modifications you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another solution for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your present forced-air system. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new space.
Be aware that, adding ductwork or water piping, you may also have to install HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The resulting increase in electricity use may even call for a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than upgrading your existing system to manage the added space, you can add a stand-alone one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on cement outside, akin 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 solution.
Since it includes 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 home. A ductless mini-split could be the ideal HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the extra space, and you’re not prepared to replace every part right away.
- The old and expanded additions have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your residence without installing or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is a good match, let Becht/Givens Service Experts offer our suggestions. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by performing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can offer cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. putting in a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the options so you can make an informed decision. To begin, call at 502-785-8230 to schedule an appointment now!
