Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest space or enlarging the kitchen, having more square footage in your residence is sure to be handy. Just remember to consider the heating and cooling necessities of the new room. One of those considerations should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Grand Island. Our guide will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition involves enlarging a space rather than adding completely new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is often the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too large when they were installed. Book a load calculation from a professional technician, such as one from McElroy Service Experts by calling 308-210-4398. This will figure out if your current HVAC setup can take on the changes you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another idea for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to add on to the ductwork from your present forced-air equipment. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new room.
You should know that, adding ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to manage the bigger load. The resulting increase in electricity consumption may even need a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this could be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of getting a new equipment to handle the additional space, you can install a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing unit that is installed on the ground near your home, similar to an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that is installed to the ceiling or wall.
Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for constant comfort from one 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 units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your home. A ductless mini-split could be the right HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t handle the extra area, and you’re not able to replace every part right away.
- The old and additional rooms have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is best, let McElroy Service Experts provide our recommendations. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication 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 breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the solutions so you can make an informed decision. To start, reach at 308-210-4398 to schedule an appointment right away!