As you plan your home addition, bring your HVAC contractor into the discussion before you get too far along in the process. It is possible to extend an existing system and replacing or augmenting it is always an alternative. Upgrading your HVAC system may factor into the overall design for the addition.
Although it looks seamless in a finished home, an HVAC system impacts design considerations. If they’re not addressed from the start, you may have to make compromises down the road.
Upgrading the System
The first thing your contractor will do is conduct a load calculation for your home and the new addition. The results will determine whether your existing system will adequately heat and cool the new space, especially if it’s a two-story addition.
The next step will be to assess the current condition of your HVAC equipment. If it’s too small, old, or inefficient, it may make financial sense to upgrade it as you build the new room. And you may be able to fold the cost of the HVAC upgrade into the loan for the home addition at a favorable interest rate.
If your existing system would be too small for the additional space, it will strain to condition your home, especially during exceptionally hot and cold weather. You may not experience complete comfort throughout your home.
Additionally, upgrading your HVAC if it’s aged or inefficient would be ideal even if it has the capacity to condition the new room. As ductwork is extended, the additional load on your system could lead to higher energy bills in an inefficient system or mechanical problems in an aging system.
A Separate System Option
If upgrading your whole-home HVAC system isn’t viable, a ductless mini-split my be the best solution. The heat pump provides both heating and cooling in a nonintrusive way for a room addition. It doesn’t require ductwork, is easy to install and highly efficient.
Making the decision about upgrading your HVAC system is a collaborative effort between you and your contractor. To learn more, contact Jackson & Sons, providing trusted HVAC services for eastern North Carolina homeowners.
Jackson & Sons, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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