Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest space or growing the kitchen, having additional square footage in your house is sure to be handy. Just don’t forget to think about the heating and cooling necessities of the new space. One of those points should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Knoxville. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition includes expanding a space rather than putting on entirely new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is usually the situation if your heating and cooling equipment was oversized when they were installed. Schedule a load calculation from an Expert technician, for example one from R & M Climate Control Service Experts by calling 865-229-6176. This will determine if your existing HVAC system can handle the changes you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your current forced-air system. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new area.
Be aware that, along with ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to handle the increased load. The following increase in electricity usage may even require a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this may be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of getting a new system to manage the extra area, you can put in a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing component that is installed on cement near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the space-saving indoor blower that mounts to the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a single piece of equipment.
Since there’s 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 differing parts of your house. A ductless mini-split might be the ideal HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t take on the added space, and you’re not ready to replace everything today.
- The old and new spaces have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your home without getting or extending the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is right for you, let R & M Climate Control Service Experts offer our advice. We have years of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a passion for efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options.
We’ll get started by performing a load calculation to figure out your needs. Then, we can give cost comparisons 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 a wise decision. To begin, call at 865-229-6176 to schedule an appointment today!