How to Upgrade Your HVAC for New Home Additions

Constructing a home addition can be both exciting and stressful: exciting because it opens up many new possibilities; stressful because it involves lots of planning. So how should you go about upgrading your HVAC system to make your new living space functional and comfortable? Let’s take a look at what you can do to meet the HVAC needs of new home additions.

Load Calculation

You should have a contractor perform a load calculation on your home. It will take into consideration several factors such as the number and location of your windows and your cubic living space. From the load calculation, you’ll know if your current HVAC system has enough capacity to accommodate the heating and cooling needs of the addition.

Extending Your Existing HVAC System

If your system can handle the needs of your new addition and is under 10 years old, you’ll only have to extend your air ducts into the new living space. To increase your entire system’s efficiency, seal and insulate your new and existing ductwork.

Upgrading Your HVAC System

The load calculation may show that your current system can’t keep the additional space comfortable. You’ll need to upgrade your system to meet the increased heating and air conditioning demands.

For example, a two-story addition can increase the volume of your home by 35 percent. You’ll need to increase your current system’s capacity by around the same percentage.

By upgrading to modern HVAC equipment with more capacity, you’ll enjoy the added advantage of improved energy efficiency and fewer maintenance requirements. The latest models of heat pumps, furnaces, and air conditioners are significantly more efficient than older systems that have been in operation for 10 or more years.

You could also install an independent HVAC system such as a ductless system just for the new space.

Regardless of the system you choose to go with, ensure its capacity can handle your new home addition’s needs. For more tips on upgrading your HVAC equipment, contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating. We serve Martin, Palm Beach, and Indian River counties.