Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or enlarging the kitchen, having additional square footage in your residence is sure to be handy. Just keep in mind you need to consider the heating and cooling necessities of the new area. One of those factors should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Ocala. Our instructions will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition calls for growing a space as opposed to adding entirely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is usually the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too large originally. Request a load calculation from an Expert technician, like one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 352-414-4006. This will determine if your current HVAC setup can handle the modifications you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: Install a New HVAC System
Another idea for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your current forced-air system. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can lengthen hot water piping to the new area.
Be mindful that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to add HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The subsequent increase in electricity use might even call for an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this might be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of installing a new equipment to handle the additional area, you can put in an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They use two parts. There’s a condensing system that is placed on the ground near your home, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the space-saving 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 year-round 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 air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct areas in your house. A ductless mini-split could be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t handle the additional area, and you’re not able to replace everything today.
- The old and expanded rooms have different heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your residence without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is best, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our suggestions. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a passion for efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process by performing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can provide cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. getting a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll present you with all the options so you can make an informed decision. To start, reach at 352-414-4006 to schedule an appointment right away!