When planning an addition to your Northeast Ohio home, there’s a lot of thought involved — its function, design, thoughts of what it will look like once it’s completed, etc. It’s an exciting thing to think about. But if you haven’t taken the time to consider the heating and cooling needs of this new addition, you’ve only done part of the necessary planning.
Option 1: Install an independent system for the new addition.
When planning an addition, one option you have is to install a system dedicated to the new area. This is a good option if your ductwork’s main trunk won’t be close enough to the addition. On the plus side, this is your chance to try out a different type of system, such as high-velocity, hydronic or ductless mini-split heat pump.
Option 2: Replace your entire system with a more energy-efficient one.
Yes, this will cost you more in the beginning. However, you’ll probably make up the cost in the ensuing years as your energy costs are reduced. This is the route you’ll need to take if your current system is past its prime (more than 10 years, for instance) or isn’t powerful enough to sustain the heating and cooling needs of the planned addition.
Option 3: Utilize your current system to cover the new area.
This is an option if your HVAC equipment has the capacity required for the heating and cooling requirements of the addition. For the best results, your system should be less than 10 years old and have the necessary capacity. When planning an addition in this fashion, also take into account the extension of your home’s ductwork.
Choosing the right option
This is the easy part. Hire a trusted HVAC professional to perform an energy evaluation of your home. From there, you will receive a recommendation on the best heating and cooling setup for your needs.
For more expert advice about planning an addition, or for any questions relating to home comfort or energy savings, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide superior HVAC services to Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heating and cooling and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area