Whether you’re putting on a second family room, a guest suite or growing the kitchen, having more square footage in your residence is sure to prove useful. Just keep in mind you need to consider the heating and cooling requirements of the new space. One of those considerations should cover whether you should upgrade your HVAC system for a home addition in Oklahoma City. Our guidebook will help you as you take the first step in the process.
Option 1: No Upgrade Needed
If the home addition includes expanding an area rather than building completely new rooms, you may not need to upgrade the HVAC system at all. This is often the situation if your heating and cooling system was oversized when they were installed. Request a load calculation from an Expert technician, for example one from Gordon's Service Experts by calling 405-432-2197. This will decide if your present HVAC equipment can take on the modifications you’ve made to your home.
Option 2: Upgrade Your HVAC System
Another solution for delivering heat and air conditioning into your home addition is to lengthen the ductwork from your present forced-air equipment. If you have radiators or baseboard heating, you can add hot water piping to the new area.
Please note that, along with ductwork or water piping, you could also have to install HVAC equipment to handle the higher load. The following increase in electricity consumption might even call for an electrical panel upgrade. If your heating and cooling system requires a replacement soon, this may be a good solution.
Option 3: Get a Ductless Mini-Split
Rather than getting a new system to cover the additional square footage, you can put in an independent one. Ductless mini-splits are ideal for this. They consist of two parts. There’s a condensing unit that sits on a slab near your home, much like an air conditioner. Then there’s the sleek indoor blower that is installed against the ceiling or wall.
Akin to a central heat pump, mini-split HVAC systems deliver both heating and cooling for constant comfort from a single setup.
Since it uses a wall- or ceiling-mounted air handler, zero ductwork is required. You can even join up to four indoor blowers with one outdoor unit for zoned heating and cooling in distinct parts of your residence. A ductless mini-split might be the right HVAC solution for your home addition if:
- Your current system can’t handle the extra space, and you’re not ready to replace everything today.
- The old and additional spaces have differing heating and cooling needs.
- You are looking to add air conditioning to your residence without putting in or extending the ductwork.
If you need help figuring out which HVAC option is best, let Gordon's Service Experts offer our advice. We have a wealth of experience helping homeowners dial in their indoor comfort, with a dedication to efficiency and eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
Let us start by doing a load calculation to learn your needs. Then, we can give 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 wise decision. To start, reach at 405-432-2197 to schedule an appointment right away!