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

Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest suite or enlarging the kitchen, having extra square footage in your residence is sure to be handy. Just don’t forget to think over the heating and cooling requirements of the new room. One of those points should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Lauderdale. Our guidebook will help you as you begin the process. 

Option 1: No Upgrade Needed 

If the home addition includes expanding a space as opposed to adding entirely new rooms, you may not need to enhance the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the instance if your heating and cooling equipment was too big to begin with. Request a load calculation from a professional technician, for example one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 954-736-4314. This will figure out if your present HVAC equipment can handle the upgrades you’ve made to your home. 

Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade 

Another solution for bringing heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your existing forced-air unit. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new area. 

Bear in mind that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to install HVAC equipment to take care of the increased load. The ensuing increase in electricity use might even need an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system needs to be replaced soon, this might be a good solution. 

Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split 

Instead of upgrading your existing system to manage the additional square footage, you can put in a separate one.  Ductless mini-splits are great for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on cement near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek 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 all-season comfort from a sole solution. 

Since it links with a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, no ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the right HVAC option for your home addition if: 

• Your current system can’t handle the extra space, and you’re not prepared to replace everything right away. 
• The old and expanded additions have different heating and cooling needs. 
• You would like to add air conditioning to your home without putting in or lengthening the ductwork. 

If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is a good match, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our advice. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a passion for efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions. 

We’ll start the process by conducting 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 give you all the possibilities so you can make a wise decision. To begin, call at 954-736-4314 to schedule an appointment now!