How to Heat and Cool a Room Addition

Room additions are an exciting remodeling project. It's nice to anticipate the enjoyment of extra space in your home. But you want the room to be comfortable year round for maximum enjoyment. There are several ways and means to accomplish this.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase a self-contained A/C unit with a heat strip in it as the easiest way to heat and cool a room addition. It won't be very attractive, but it will do the job.

2. Use your existing HVAC unit to heat and cool a room addition. But make sure that your unit is capable of supplying the room addition. Check with your local HVAC specialist. Tell him the size of your HVAC unit and the size of your room addition. Ask if your existing unit will be large enough to handle the job.

3. Start laying out your duct placement in your room addition. The best location for your supply duct is in front of a window. Your return vent can be located in any place. Cut the supply hole and your return air hole in the floor.

4. Install your supply boot and your return air boot. (The boot is what the duct work attaches to.) Now it's time to run your duct work to heat and cool your room addition.

5. Locate your supply plenum. This is where all of your supply duct work runs from. Cut a whole in it and put a boot. Use flexible insulated duct to attach to your boot. Locate your return plenum. Repeat this process on your return vent.

6. Install your grills in your room addition. Your supply grill will be adjustable for the amount of air flow you want. Your return grill will not be adjustable.