Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or enlarging the kitchen, having additional square footage in your home is sure to be convenient. Just remember to consider the heating and cooling necessities of the new space. One of those factors should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Nashville. Our guide will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition calls for growing a room instead of putting on entirely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is often the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too large when they were installed. Schedule a load calculation from an Expert technician, like one from Donelson Air Service Experts by calling 615-953-9885. This will decide if your existing HVAC system can manage the upgrades 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 current forced-air equipment. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new room.
Bear in mind that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to put in HVAC equipment to manage the bigger load. The resulting increase in electricity use may even need a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than installing a new unit to cover the additional area, you can put in an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on cement near your home, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is placed to the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a sole system.
Since it has a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, ductwork isn’t necessary. You can even link up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t take on the extra room, and you’re not prepared to replace it all right away.
- The old and new rooms have different heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your residence without getting or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is best, let Donelson Air Service Experts offer our recommendations. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by completing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can offer cost listings for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll give you all the solutions so you can make a wise decision. To start, reach at 615-953-9885 to schedule an appointment now!