Adding a new room to your house in Raleigh, NC, is a great way to get some extra square footage for a growing family. This new room can be converted into a play area, home office, or even a guest room — the possibilities are endless.
However, when planning for an addition, Wake County homeowners often overlook the heating and cooling requirements of the space. They invest in the best flooring and spruce up the space with some fancy décor, but do not pay enough attention to how they will keep the room’s temperature comfortable year-round. As a renowned general contractor in Wake County, NC, Glasgow Design Build wants to save you from making the same mistake.
In this blog, we will help you determine if you need to get a new air conditioning unit for your new extension or if your existing AC checks all the boxes off:
Steps to add an AC system to a new addition
Whether it is building a porch or deck or installing a new room to an existing property, home renovations in Raleigh, NC, require a ton of planning. (Related Blog: How To Prepare For A Home Remodeling Project?) Here are three crucial steps you must follow to ensure comfort in your new addition. These steps will determine if you need a new air conditioning unit or can make do by upgrading the existing one.
Step 1: Determine if expansion is necessary in the first place.
Before hiring a general contracting firm to expand your air conditioning unit, consider if you even need to do it. Wake County homeowners who are simply enlarging a space and not building an entirely new room often do not require meddling with their heating and cooling system at all — no upgrade required. This is all the more true for houses that already have an oversized heating and cooling system — your existing unit will efficiently offer a pleasant indoor environment.
That being said, you should not make independent decisions without consulting a licensed general contractor in Wake County, NC. Only a professional contractor can analyze your home addition and offer a final decision based on certain factors, including the square footage of the house and the number and placement of windows. They will determine if you need to invest in a new air conditioning unit for your addition.
If your current heating and cooling unit is not efficient (or large) enough to keep your new room comfortable throughout the year, you may either need to add a new system or upgrade your existing one.
Step 2: Consider adding extra ductwork.
For houses in Raleigh, NC, that may need to upgrade their heating and cooling equipment, extending the ductwork for a forced-air system can also be a viable solution — although this can be a challenge for homes with old wiring. If you use radiators or baseboard heating, you can simply extend hot water piping to the new addition.
Given the increased power load due to the new room addition, you may still need a new, powerful heating and cooling unit. On top of that, you may also need a new electrical panel to support the increased energy usage. Buying a new heating and cooling system is also a better choice if your existing one is a little long in the tooth and needs replacement.
Step 3: Installing a split HVAC system.
Ductless heating and cooling systems are a popular option in Wake County. These split systems are a great alternative to buying a dedicated unit for the new home addition. Ductless air conditioning units consist of the condensing component and the indoor blower. While the condenser unit is placed outside the house, the compact blower is installed on either the ceiling or the exterior wall.
These ductless split systems are ideal for Raleigh households where old and new rooms have separate heating and cooling needs or rooms that need a heating and cooling unit but do not need any extra ductwork. This means ductless heating and cooling systems are free from common ductwork-related problems, like blocked vents and leaky ducts. Not to mention that the airflow is consistent as the system is directly connected to the addition.
Since these systems are ductless, the installation process is very easy as well. And unlike conventional air conditioning units, you need not wait for weeks to keep your indoor environment comfortable — professional Raleigh contractors can install them in a single day.
In addition, they are ideal for situations where the present heating and cooling unit cannot meet the needs of the added room. Along with fulfilling all heating and cooling needs, split systems are known for streamlined installation and affordability.
Their energy efficiency adds to their advantages and popularity in Wake County. Most of these systems are reliant on inverter technology. As the compressor motor in the unit constantly adjusts to regulate the room’s temperature, it significantly reduces the energy consumption — so that you get to experience the happiness of lower utility bills. Therefore, these devices are Energy Star-rated.
The best part is these ductless air conditioning units have a dedicated thermostat for the new addition. This allows Wake County homeowners to increase or decrease the temperature of the new room without tampering with the temperature of the entire house.
The benefits of ductless heating and cooling systems do not end here. They are also known for offering healthier indoor air quality. The indoor unit comes with a built-in filter, which purifies the air in the new room. Contamination is further eliminated because of the absence of ducts.
Glasgow Design Build: Installing HVAC Systems in a Hassle-free Manner!
If you are looking for a general contractor in Wake County, NC, to install a ductless heating and cooling system, Glasgow Design Build has you covered. We are a general contracting firm in Raleigh, NC, specializing in creating new spaces and renovating the existing ones. We are a Raleigh-licensed company that meets and exceeds the expectations of all of our clients. Feel free to call (919) 228-9107 or fill out an online form to schedule an appointment.