Congratulations, you’ve finished your home remodel, it is an exciting time, and you can’t wait to use the new space. One consideration that many people fail to plan for is the increase in square footage in their home and how it relates to your air conditioning system. Luckily, there are a few ways to deal with the new requirements for heating and cooling that a new addition adds. It is necessary to choose one of these options to reduce unnecessary strain on your equipment and maintain optimal efficiency. Here are the three top options that will the most effective and efficient.
1. Expand Your Current HVAC System
Obviously, this is the most popular option, because it is the cheapest and it causes the least amount of disruption. This solution is only really feasible for an HVAC system that is less than ten years old and that has the requisite capacity to handle the new addition size. If this is the case, you can extend the existing ductwork into your new addition. While the ducts are being extended, take the opportunity to have the ductwork cleaned, insulated and sealed. Doing this will ensure that the HVAC system can operate at maximum efficiency. It could be that you would like better control over the heating and cooling in your new space. If this is the case, you could set the new addition up as a separate zone as part of a zoning system.
2. Upgrade Your Equipment to a Larger System
It is quite common in these kinds of situations to discover that the existing equipment is not large enough to handle the additional square footage. The best option here may be to replace your existing HVAC system with a larger unit that can handle the additional load. It will still be necessary to extend the ducts in the new addition. If your equipment is large enough to accommodate the new load, but it is older than ten years old, it is still a good idea to replace your system. A brand new air conditioning system will be far more efficient and cheaper to run.
3. Consider Installing an Independent Air Conditioning Solution
Some new home additions are located in such a way that extending ductwork from an existing system may not be feasible. It could be the case that the space is too far away from the duct trunk, making it much harder to efficiently deliver air. It may be a better idea to treat the new addition as a separate space entirely for the purposes of heating and cooling. The space could be fitted with an independent HVAC system combined with a ductless mini split. This equipment should be sufficient for most additions; it will not take up excessive space, and the duct installation should be minimal. Of course, it is vital to ensure that the new HVAC equipment is well matched to the square footage of the addition for efficient heating and cooling.
For more information, contact Around The Clock Heating and Air Conditioning.