Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or enlarging the kitchen, having additional square footage in your house is sure to be convenient. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new space. One of those points should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Houston. Our guidebook will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes growing a space as opposed to adding entirely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too large originally. Get a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Church Services by calling 713-396-3760. This will affect if your present HVAC system can take on the upgrades you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another solution for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your present forced-air system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new space.
Be mindful that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you might also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the higher load. The ensuing increase in electricity consumption might even need an enhanced electrical panel. 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
Rather than installing a new system to cover the extra square footage, you can add a stand-alone one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They use two parts. There’s a condensing component that is installed on a slab outside, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek indoor blower that is placed on the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for continual comfort from one setup.
Since it includes a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, ductwork isn’t necessary. You can even join up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your home. A ductless mini-split might be the ideal HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t absorb the extra space, and you’re not ready to replace every part right away.
- The old and expanded additions have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your home without getting or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is best, let Church Services provide our advice. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a passion for efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process by completing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost comparisons for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll present you with all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To get started, call at 713-396-3760 to schedule an appointment right away!