Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest space or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your home is sure to be handy. Just remember to think about the heating and cooling needs of the new area. One of those points should incorporate whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Fort Worth. Our guide will help you as you get started with the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition involves expanding an area instead of adding totally new rooms, you may not need to improve the HVAC system at all. This is usually the instance if your heating and cooling units were too large when they were installed. Schedule a load calculation from a pro technician, like one from Stark Services by calling 817-668-6689. This will affect if your current HVAC equipment can take on the changes you’ve made to your residence.
Option 2: HVAC System Upgrade
Another idea for getting heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to extend the ductwork from your present forced-air system. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can extend hot water piping to the new space.
Please note that, adding ductwork or water piping, you may also have to add HVAC equipment to manage the increased load. The subsequent increase in electricity consumption might even need an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system is due for a replacement soon, this might be perfectly acceptable.
Option 3: Add a Ductless Mini-Split
In place of upgrading your existing equipment to cover the additional square footage, you can put in an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They use two parts. There’s a condensing component that is installed on the ground outside, akin to an air conditioner. Then there’s the space-saving indoor blower that is installed to the ceiling or wall.
Similar to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling for year-round comfort from a single solution.
Since it links with a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even link up to four indoor units with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in differing parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split may be the ideal HVAC option for your home addition if:
- Your existing system can’t take on the added space, and you’re not ready to replace every part today.
- The old and expanded rooms have varying heating and cooling needs.
- You want to add air conditioning to your house without putting in or lengthening the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is best, let Stark Services provide our suggestions. We have years of experience helping homeowners fine-tune their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC systems.
We’ll start the process 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 give you all the options so you can make a smart decision. To begin, call at 817-668-6689 to schedule an appointment right away!