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

Whether you’re building a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your home is sure to be convenient. Just keep in mind you need to think about the heating and cooling requirements of the new area. One of those factors should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Lauderdale. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process. 

Option 1: No Upgrade Needed 

If the home addition includes enlarging an area as opposed to putting on entirely new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is most likely the case if your heating and cooling units were too big originally. Book a load calculation from an Expert technician, like one from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 954-736-4314. This will affect if your present HVAC equipment can handle the modifications you’ve made to your residence. 

Option 2: Install a New HVAC System 

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 use radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new room. 

Bear in mind that, in addition to ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to manage the higher load. The following increase in electricity usage might even need a new electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this may be perfectly acceptable. 

Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split 

Instead of getting a new system to cover the extra space, you can install an independent one.  Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this. They have two parts. There’s a condensing component that sits on a slab near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that mounts to the ceiling or wall. 

Like a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for continual comfort from one solution. 

Since there’s a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, you don’t need ductwork. You can even link up to four indoor air handlers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing spaces in your home. A ductless mini-split could be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if: 

• Your current system can’t handle the additional space, and you’re not prepared to replace every part today. 
• The old and additional rooms have different heating and cooling needs. 
• You would like to add air conditioning to your home without installing or adding on to the ductwork. 

If you need help determining which HVAC option is right for you, let Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offer our recommendations. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC options. 

We’ll start the process by doing a load calculation to determine your needs. Then, we can offer cost breakdowns 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 a smart decision. To begin, call at 954-736-4314 to schedule an appointment today!