Best Ways to Heat and Cool an Addition

Adding a new space to your house can be an exciting project. Besides budgeting, setting a timeline for your project, and deciding on décor options for the new space, you need to consider which HVAC setup will suit the new addition. Deciding on heating and cooling options is necessary because expanding your house increases your home’s heating and cooling needs.

Different HVAC options suit different types of additions. Therefore, before you settle on a heating and cooling system for a home addition, you must consider what purpose the new space will serve. Our HVAC technicians in Sheboygan can advise you on the best way to heat and cool an addition based on its purpose.

Read on to explore the best ways to heat and cool a home addition.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an HVAC System for an Addition

Homeowners expand their houses for various reasons. An extra room in one home may serve as a bedroom, while in another, it may be a dining area, sunroom, or living room. The best way to heat and cool an addition will vary accordingly.

If your HVAC system is old, it may not be an efficient option for an addition. Replacing your old HVAC system may save you more money than installing a new solution to work alongside the older system.

Another factor to consider when determining the best way to heat and cool an addition is how often you plan on using it. HVAC systems that you switch on and off as needed or use a temporary heating and cooling solution will be more efficient for a room you will not use frequently. However, if you plan to host people in your extra space regularly, you may want to get a long-term heating and cooling solution.

Sometimes, the laws dictate which HVAC systems homeowners can use in specific spaces. For instance, your local ordinances may prohibit adding ductwork to a garage. In this case, you cannot use a ducted HVAC system if your home addition is a garage.

Heating and Cooling Options for Your New Home Addition

There are multiple solutions you can choose from to heat and cool your new space effectively. Before deciding on heating and cooling options for your home, consult an HVAC professional for tips on selecting the best system. Here are some possibilities your HVAC contractor may mention:

Extending Your Existing HVAC

The first option you should consider is using your existing heater and air conditioning unit. Have the technicians at Professional Services analyze the size of your HVAC to determine whether it is powerful enough to handle the additional heating and cooling volumes. If your HVAC’s load calculations show that it can take the extra work, our technicians can extend your HVAC into the new space by adding new ductwork.

Extending your HVAC system is the best way to heat and cool an addition if you have added a small sunroom or basement to your home. A small room will not need a lot of heating and cooling, and a basement will not lose energy quickly because it will have natural insulation from the ground.

Installing an Independent HVAC System

If your existing HVAC does not have enough power to take on an extra room’s heating and cooling needs, you may need a second HVAC. An additional HVAC is also fitting if your new home addition is extensive.

Installing another HVAC will promote energy efficiency in your home because your system will not overwork itself. An extra HVAC system will also allow you to set varying temperatures for different zones in your home, depending on which ones you primarily use at different times.

Adding a Ductless HVAC in the Additional Space

If your home addition is a single room, extending your system or adding an independent HVAC may be an unnecessary expense. Consider installing a ductless mini-split HVAC for your new addition to avoid the extra costs of installing a larger HVAC system. 

A ductless mini-split HVAC is also a good choice because it provides the service of a ducted system with a smaller environmental footprint. Most mini-split HVACs offer heating and cooling, so you won’t have to install separate heating and cooling systems.

Installing PTACs, Window Units, or Baseboard Heaters

Packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs),  window units, and baseboard heaters are cost-effective heating and cooling options for a single room. PTACs provide both heating and cooling, and you can adjust their temperature to a setting that you find comfortable.

On the other hand, window units will cool only the air in front of their installed area. Because they provide cooling in one direction, you may experience uneven temperatures in a room with a window unit. Baseboard heaters work similarly to window units to heat the air in their installed area.

The PTACs, window units, and baseboard heaters are noisy and bulky and may not be as energy-efficient as ductless mini-split HVACs. However, they may be ideal if you want to save on costs or will not use your new addition frequently.

Changing Your HVAC System

Sometimes, getting a full HVAC system replacement is the best way to heat and cool an addition. Changing your HVAC system may be the only viable solution for your heating and cooling needs if your indoor unit does not have enough power to accommodate the size of your home after renovation.

Using an insufficient HVAC system may alter the airflow volume in a house, thus compromising the entire home’s comfort. Therefore, if your heating and cooling system is too small to cater to your home, consider replacing it with a more suitable HVAC. 

HVAC Services

If you are still unsure about the best way to heat and cool an addition, consult our HVAC specialists to  learn more about the efficiency of new air conditioners. The technicians at Professional Services have extensive experience providing heating and cooling solutions for home renovation projects.

Our HVAC professionals will evaluate your current system to determine the ideal solution for your home addition. Contact Professional Services at (262) 218-2636 to schedule a consultation for heating and cooling solutions for your home additions in Washington, WI.