Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or expanding the kitchen, having extra square footage in your house is sure to prove useful. Just remember to consider the heating and cooling needs of the new area. One of those considerations should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Buffalo. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes expanding an area as opposed to putting on completely new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the situation if your heating and cooling units were too large when they were installed. Get a load calculation from a pro technician, like one from Sunbeam Service Experts by calling 716-427-6807. This will figure out if your existing HVAC setup can take on the changes you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: Install a New HVAC System
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your existing forced-air system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend 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 take care of the higher load. The following increase in electricity usage might even require an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of installing a new equipment to handle the added area, you can install an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is placed on the ground outdoors, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that mounts on the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for continuous comfort from one system.
Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even join up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your house. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the additional square footage, and you’re not ready to replace every part right now.
- The old and additional rooms have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your home without putting in or adding on to the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is right for you, let Sunbeam Service Experts give our advice. 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 completing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can give cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. putting in a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the possibilities so you can make a smart decision. To get started, reach at 716-427-6807 to schedule an appointment today!