Placing an addition on a home requires a lot of different decisions. You must determine where you will put the addition, how big it will be, and what rooms it will include. In addition to this, there may be a lot of choices to make regarding the systems that are used in the addition. One system you will need to talk about is the way you will heat and cool the area. Your two main options for this will be to use a new, separate furnace to heat and cool the area or to tie in your existing furnace system to the area. Here are some factors that will help you determine which option is better for your home.

The Size of Your Current System

The first thing that must be considered in this decision involves the size of your current system. When a furnace system is installed in a home, the size is based on the square footage of the home. Unless you installed a furnace that was oversized for your home, your current system is probably not large enough to heat your added space.

If it is large enough, there is a possibility you could tie into the current system. One benefit of being able to do this is that it may be cheaper. Instead of having to buy another furnace, you could simply pay to run additional ductwork to the new rooms. You would also have the expense of a new thermostat and register vents.

The Efficiency of Your Current System

Another thing you may want to consider with this decision is the age and efficiency of your existing furnace. If your current system is relatively new and highly efficient, and if you are able to use it for your new addition, that might be a good idea.

On the other hand, if your furnace is old and inefficient, installing a new furnace to heat your home might turn out to be the more cost-effective method. New furnaces are a lot more efficient than old systems, and this means they use less energy to heat homes. They offer money savings on energy bills, and they are also better for the environment simply because they use less energy.

The Work It Would Take to Tie It In

The other factor that can play a role in this decision involves the location of your existing furnace in comparison to the location of your addition. If the addition is on the opposite side of the home from the furnace, it might be located too far away for it to be used to heat the new area. When there is a large distance like this, it can take a lot of work to tie in the ductwork to the area. In addition to that, it can be hard for heat to travel that far. The end result might be that you find that it is very hard to heat your new addition, and this occurs simply from the way heat is lost as it travels.

This is often why choosing to install a separate furnace in an addition is a good idea. If you go with this option, you will need to decide where to place the furnace. Some options are in a closet or in the basement below the new space. This is definitely something you should decide before you begin the addition project.

If you are planning on adding space to your home, choosing how to handle the heating and cooling is an important decision. If you would like more information about this, contact a heating and air company today.