Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having extra square footage in your house is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling necessities of the new room. One of those points should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Denver. Our guidebook will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition involves enlarging a space as opposed to putting on completely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is usually the case if your heating and cooling system was too large originally. Get a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 303-647-5853. This will affect if your present HVAC setup can handle the upgrades you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Replace Your HVAC System
Another option for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your existing forced-air unit. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new area.
Bear in mind that, adding ductwork or water piping, you may also have to install HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The resulting increase in electricity consumption may even call for a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this could be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than upgrading your existing unit to handle the extra square footage, you can add a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is installed on the ground outside, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek indoor blower that is installed to the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for all-season comfort from a sole piece of equipment.
Since there’s 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 differing areas in your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t handle the additional space, and you’re not prepared to replace every part today.
- The old and additional spaces have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your residence without getting or extending the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning give our advice. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by performing a load calculation to figure out 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 present you with all the solutions so you can make a smart decision. To begin, contact us at 303-647-5853 to schedule an appointment now!