Should You Install a New HVAC System for a Home Addition? 

Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your residence is sure to prove useful. Just don’t forget to think over the heating and cooling requirements of the new room. One of those considerations should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in the U.S.. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.

Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary

If the home addition involves expanding 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 oversized originally. Get a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing by calling 866-397-3787. This will affect if your current HVAC setup can handle the changes you’ve made to your house.

Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System

Another idea for bringing heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your present forced-air equipment. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new room.

Be mindful that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the higher load. The subsequent increase in electricity usage may even require an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this might be a good option.

Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split

In place of upgrading your existing equipment to cover the extra space, you can install a stand-alone one. Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They use two parts. There’s a condensing system that is installed on the ground outdoors, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the small indoor blower that is placed to the ceiling or wall.

Akin to 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 add up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different parts of your house. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:

• • Your existing system can’t absorb the added square footage, and you’re not ready to replace every part right away.

• • The old and additional additions have differing heating and cooling needs.

• • You want to add air conditioning to your house without installing or extending the ductwork.

If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing offer our recommendations. We have years 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 determine your needs. Then, we can offer cost listings 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 an informed decision. To begin, contact us at 866-397-3787 to schedule an appointment right away!