Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest space or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your house is sure to be convenient. Just remember to think over the heating and cooling requirements of the new area. One of those factors should include whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Calgary. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Necessary
If the home addition involves growing an area instead of building completely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is often the case if your heating and cooling units were too big originally. Schedule a load calculation from an Expert technician, such as one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 403-279-5760. This will figure out if your existing HVAC equipment can manage the modifications you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your existing forced-air equipment. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new area.
Be mindful that, along with ductwork or water piping, you may also have to put in HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The subsequent increase in electricity consumption might even call for an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this could be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than upgrading your existing system to handle the added square footage, you can install a freestanding one. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing component that is placed on a slab outside, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek indoor blower that is installed to the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems provide both heating and cooling for constant comfort from a single setup.
Since it uses a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, ductwork isn’t necessary. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing spaces in your house. A ductless mini-split might be the ideal HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your present system can’t take on the additional square footage, and you’re not prepared to replace everything today.
- The old and new rooms have different heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your home without installing or extending the ductwork.
If you need help determining which HVAC option is a good match, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our suggestions. We have years of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by completing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can offer cost comparisons for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll present you with all the options so you can make a wise decision. To get started, reach at 403-279-5760 to schedule an appointment right away!