Cooling a new home addition should be a part of the overall plan. The choice you make now will affect both the air conditioning performance and operating costs of the addition for the foreseeable future. The available options for cooling your new home addition can also present a timely and convenient opportunity to improve your whole-house comfort and efficiency, too.
Extend Your Existing System
If your home’s current HVAC system is less than 10 years old, and it adequately cools the house, you may opt to simply connect it to ductwork for the new addition. First, make sure your present ductwork is tested for air leakage and is properly sealed; duct sealing can dramatically improve system efficiency and performance for the entire house. Also, consider installing a zoning system to make the new addition an independent temperature zone with its own dedicated thermostat.
Upgrade to a Larger Cooling System
If your present unit is more than a decade old, it may be a good time to upgrade, particularly since a central A/C’s expected service life is about 12 years. By upgrading, you can realize energy savings of at least 20 percent, along with improved performance.
Install an Independent System for the New Addition
A ductless heat pump utilizes a downsized outdoor heat pump and low-profile indoor air handler to deliver powerful cooling to a single room, minus the expense, inefficiency and maintenance issues of ducts. The two components are connected by a narrow refrigerant conduit that requires only a three-inch hole in an exterior wall. A single outdoor heat pump unit can serve up to five indoor air handlers, each with its own dedicated thermostat.
For more information on cooling your new home addition, check out Pruett Air Conditioning’s HVAC services or call 478-225-4921.
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