Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest area or expanding the kitchen, having extra square footage in your house is sure to prove useful. Just keep in mind you need to consider the heating and cooling needs of the new room. One of those considerations should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Myers. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Required
If the home addition calls for growing a space instead of adding completely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is often the case if your heating and cooling units were oversized when they were installed. Request a load calculation from a pro technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 239-908-6991. This will affect if your current HVAC equipment can manage the upgrades you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your current forced-air unit. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new space.
Bear in mind that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you could also have to install HVAC equipment to take care of the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity usage could even require a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this could be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of upgrading your existing unit to handle the added space, you can add a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on cement near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that is placed against the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for continuous comfort from a sole piece of equipment.
Since it links with a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, no ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different areas in your home. A ductless mini-split could be the ideal HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t absorb the additional space, and you’re not ready to replace everything today.
- The old and expanded additions have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is a good match, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our suggestions. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process by performing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can offer cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To begin, call at 239-908-6991 to schedule an appointment right away!