Whether you’re adding a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having extra square footage in your home is sure to prove useful. Just keep in mind you need to consider the heating and cooling needs of the new space. One of those considerations should involve whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in San Antonio. Our instructions will help you as you begin the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition calls for enlarging a room as opposed to putting on completely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is usually the instance if your heating and cooling units were too large when they were installed. Book a load calculation from a pro technician, for example one from San Antonio Air Service Experts by calling 210-570-9705. This will decide if your existing HVAC equipment can handle the upgrades you’ve made to your house.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another solution for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your existing forced-air equipment. If you rely on radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new space.
Please note that, adding ductwork or water piping, you might also have to add HVAC equipment to handle the bigger load. The ensuing increase in electricity usage might even require an enhanced electrical panel. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this may be a good option.
Option 3: Install a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than installing a new unit to cover the additional space, you can add a separate one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing component that is installed on a slab outside, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the compact indoor blower that is placed on the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a single piece of equipment.
Since it links with a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, you don’t need ductwork. You can even add up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in different parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split might be the right HVAC system for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t absorb the additional area, and you’re not prepared to replace it all today.
- The old and additional additions have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You would like to add air conditioning to your home without installing or extending the ductwork.
If you need help deciding which HVAC option is a good match, let San Antonio Air Service Experts offer our suggestions. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners adjust their indoor comfort, with a commitment to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by doing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can provide cost breakdowns for ductwork installation and system upgrades vs. installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system. We’ll offer you all the possibilities so you can make an informed decision. To start, call at 210-570-9705 to schedule an appointment right away!