How Home Additions Affect Your AC System
Adding an extra room to your home is an awesome idea. But this is only so if you let a professional handle the job. When well-designed, the additional room can increase the comfort and value of your home. But this additional space has a downside; it adds extra loads to the air conditioner and affects its performance.
When you contact a reputable HVAC company for an air conditioning installation, the first thing they will do is send over their technicians. Among the reasons that they do this is that their HVAC contractors will take the measurements and other factors of your home to determine the right-sized AC system.
All this is done to ensure that an AC system can meet all of your cooling needs effectively. So, when adding a new room to your home, thereby changing an air conditioner’s cooling load, your AC system’s performance will be compromised.
Air Conditioner Installation Junedale PA: Cooling Your New Home Addition
In today’s article, we will be discussing how adding a room to your home will affect the AC system. Also, we will discuss some solutions for homes that are adding a room.
Calculating Cooling Load For Your Home
The cooling needs in your home will increase due to the additional space. So, to calculate the cooling power while incorporating your home, including the new addition, you can use the following formula:
((Total Square ft. X25)/12,000)-0.5 = Required Tons
Let’s take this example: If your home is 3,000 square feet in size, its cooling load will be calculated as follows: ((3,000X25)/12,000)-0.5=5.75. Using the same example, if you add a new room that is 500 sq ft in size to the existing 3,000 sq ft, the new cooling load will be 6.71. So, to satisfy the cooling needs brought by the extra room, you need to make adjustments to your air conditioner.
Air Conditioning Options When Adding A Room To Your Home
As you have learned by now, your AC system will not be able to supply sufficient cool air to the extra new room. This means that you will need to make some adjustments as listed below:
i) Extend The Existing HVAC Air Ducts
An addition to your home was not considered in the original calculations and design of your air conditioning system. For you to be able to supply air to the new room, you will need to tap into the air duct system that is already in your home.
Air ducts are designed in such a way that their diameter reduces the further away you move from the air handler. To avoid any negative effects to how the other rooms are cooled, you may need to tap to one of the ducts that are larger in size.
ii) Upgrade Your Air Conditioning Unit To Meet Load Requirements
Before making any modifications to the air ducts, an HVAC contractor will need to confirm that the AC unit installed in your home can comfortably handle the extra load. If it is not capable of doing so, the next thing to do is to install another one that can accommodate your new cooling needs. Your HVAC contractor might recommend an upgrade of your current system, to one that can. By just installing a new condenser and air handler, you will be able to cool your home effectively. Keep in mind that if you do not have enough money upfront, there are financing options are available. A good number of HVAC companies offer the option to finance the purchase and installation for those with good credit.
iii) Install A Ductless Heating And Cooling System
By now, you already know that the addition of an extra room in your home will affect your HVAC unit’s performance. To solve this, most people install an independent AC unit in the new room to cool it, such as a ductless system. However, this is a good option for those who have a relatively new cooling system in place. Please note that ductless mini-split systems are designed to cool single rooms or zones. Therefore, like a central HVAC system, it will need to be sized accordingly. For more information about small ductless systems, please contact R.F. Ohl.
Air conditioning and heating are essential. Do not forget about them when adding a new room to your home. Make sure that you hire an HVAC company that is competent to help you find the right solutions for heating and cooling the room. Connecting water and power to a new room is relatively simple to achieve. However, HVAC systems are a little bit more complex and require a reputable HVAC company. Be sure to call R.F. Ohl today!
Conclusion
If you are a home or business owner and in need of heating and cooling solutions, R.F. Ohl is the right HVAC company for you. We are experts in the installation, maintenance, and repair of all makes and models of HVAC systems. Proud of providing affordable prices and state-of-the-art services, we promise to make your visit with us one you won’t forget. Therefore, contact us today for all your HVAC needs. We offer free estimates and free second opinions. Call now!
Some of the areas we service include Hazleton, Junedale, Mcadoo, Tresckow and these zip codes 18201, 18230, 18237, 18254 as well as all surrounding areas in Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Click here to contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.