HVAC for Garages, Basements, and Remodels in Southern New Hampshire
SkyWalker HVAC Co-owner Ryan Walker
Today, we're going to break down the ins and outs of the HVAC options available for garages, basements, workshops, and other remodeled spaces that need to be heated and cooled. With home costs rising, it’s becoming more important than ever to utilize every space in your home. Converting the garage into a workshop with cooling and heating options opens up more opportunities. It adds value to your house and is an excellent return on your investment when selling your home.
By taking a basement and adding HVAC, more square footage can be utilized in various ways. Or you might be considering adding a small addition to part of the house and need to strategize which HVAC options would work best for your budget and goals. At SkyWalker HVAC, we are here to help in the early stages of planning how you will maximize all the square footage you can.
How a Mini-Split Heat Pump Works for Garages in Southern New Hampshire
Typically, in a home with a traditional central air system or boiler for a forced hot water heating system, it does not heat and cool your garage. This is where the most cost-effective solution is often an independent mini-split heat pump. Since there is no need for ductwork or running pipes to carry hot water, the mini-split heat pump can easily operate in an isolated space without requiring expensive modifications to your primary heating and cooling unit in the main house.
The ductless mini-split heat pump is highly efficient and flexible, allowing you to turn it off when you don’t need to heat or cool the space. The compact size of the indoor unit is small enough and can be mounted on a wall. All that is needed is a round cutout to reach the outside unit. This low-impact heating and cooling option allows you to get the most usable space from an HVAC option.
If you're looking to use your garage as a home gym or workspace for projects, we all know that even in the summer, we need air conditioning to make the space comfortable. The mini-split is remarkably quiet and very good at energy usage, making it perfect for keeping that utility bill down. The technology of a mini-split heat pump is so efficient and smart that it actually uses the by-product of its power to help heat and cool. The mini-split heat pump is fast becoming one of the most popular options regarding green energy and targeted heating and cooling. To learn more, read our article on how a mini-heat pump works!
How to Determine the Sizing for a Mini-Split Heat Pump in Your Garage
There are several factors to consider when determining the size of a mini-split heat pump for your garage. It is not as simple as installing the largest unit; in fact, using a too-large mini-split heat pump could actually work less effectively than a properly designed heat pump.
If the mini-split is too large, the unit will short-cycle by turning off and on too frequently, which leads to the unit wearing out more quickly. It will also struggle to maintain humidity control when used as an air conditioner in the summer because it will not stay on long enough to help reduce the humidity levels. And with the humid summers in Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts, you need the air to be cooled, but also for the humidity to be reduced.
If the mini-split is not big enough for the space, it will have to work too hard. This overactivity reduces the life span of the unit, and it may not be able to reach the desired temperature you select.
Here are some basic recommendations for garage spaces, but please keep in mind that these are only a reference point. Each space needs to be thoroughly inspected by a licensed HVAC contractor to determine the custom requirements for that space.
BTU Guidelines for Garages in Southern New Hampshire:
These are rough BTU estimates for a garage using a mini-split, but again, garages are unique and need a customized plan for each one.
1 car garage with insulation at 200-300 square feet requires about 6,000-9,000 BTU
2 car garage with insulation at 400-600 square feet requires about 12,000-18,000 BTU
Garage/Workshop that is uninsulated at 600 square feet requires about 18,000-24,000 BTU
At SkyWalker HVAC, we perform load calculations to scientifically determine the best-sized mini-split heat pump unit for your custom space. The climate of Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts has a unique environment, characterized by cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers.
Some of the factors we look at include:
1- Square Footage is the most obvious and the starting point for determining the size of the mini-split unit, but as we go through the following checkpoints, we will adjust based on the other factors.
2- Insulation and whether you have any at all, or if it's drafty, is a big issue. Typically, garages have more heat gain and heat loss due to the space using fewer insulating materials. By increasing insulation for doors and walls, you will reduce the size of the mini-split heat pump.
3- The Direction of the Garage is very important. Does it face the north and is covered by trees, or is it south-facing with windows? These environmental factors influence the amount of radiant heat the space emits.
4- What Ceiling Height? If you have high ceilings, more air needs to be conditioned, which then requires a larger unit. The square footage is then impacted by the actual volume of the area and can sometimes almost double the requirements.
5- Equipment in the Garage, like refrigerators, compressors, and other power equipment, generates heat through their operation and impacts the overall calculations on what mini-split heat pump to use in the garage.
How to Heat and Cool a Finished Basement
Finishing out the basement allows more usage of your home but how do you cool and heat the space?
When deciding to finish a basement and use it as an additional room in your house, there are several considerations to take into account regarding HVAC. The basement is often a significant addition to the overall square footage. Once you have a basement with both heating and cooling capabilities, you gain additional square footage for more usable space.
The challenge that many basements face is that they were not included in the existing HVAC system. That means that the original HVAC system was most likely designed for the square footage of the rest of your house. When adding a basement as a finished area, the current HVAC system often does not accommodate the additional square footage from the basement.
Option 1- Using The Existing HVAC System
If the original HVAC system does have room for the additional square footage in the basement, you may have to run additional ductwork to the furnace and or air conditioner. As well as vents and air returns to channel the air back and forth from the furnace. If you are fortunate enough to have space on the furnace and or air conditioner, this is a good option for you, as you only have to add the ductwork and vents.
If you are using a boiler for heat and have room to add on to your forced hot water boiler, you will have to add additional water pipes through the basement for heating. This will not allow for any air conditioning, as the forced hot water heating doesn’t cool at all.
Option 2- Upgrading the Existing HVAC System
In the case that the original HVAC system doesn’t have enough room to properly heat and cool the basement, you will need to upgrade the furnace and/or air conditioner to accommodate the added square footage. Selecting a new HVAC unit with zoning capabilities allows for the basement to be controlled as a separate zone.
The basement often has very different temperature requirements, as it typically sits below grade and is less affected by outside elements than the rest of the house. That is why it is so important to independently zone the basement so that this area can have the ideal temperature setting. If the basement is on the same zone as the rest of the house, it can create uncomfortable conditions where the earth's temperature is too hot or too cold in the basement.
You may also want to keep the basement at a different temperature than the rest of the house because you are using the space for things that require a lower or higher temperature than the upstairs. This allows for energy efficiency, so the basement is optimized for its ideal controlled climate.
Option 3- Using a Small Mini-Split Heat Pump
If you want to avoid tying into the current HVAC system altogether, you can install an energy-efficient Mini-Split Heat Pump. These modern units are one of the most energy-efficient heat and cooling sources. They can heat and cool a space and function independently from the rest of the HVAC system.
If the basement is above ground on any wall, this mini-split option works well and it doesn’t require any ductwork, water pipes, or baseboard. All you need is one small space for the indoor unit and a line to run to the outside unit.
Option 4- Electric Baseboard Heat
Another simple solution is installing baseboard heaters along the walls. The baseboard heaters are powered by electricity and have become an economical option. There are baseboard heaters that utilize a variety of fluids to maintain even heat distribution and are remarkably quiet. This option works well if you don’t want any sound coming from your heater.
The baseboard heaters won’t do anything about cooling the space, though, and you will need to address that issue separately if you choose to heat with baseboards. Another thing to consider with baseboards is that you won’t be able to put furniture flush against the wall. The baseboard heaters need some space around them to distribute the heat efficiently. This can hinder some design plans if you are trying to utilize the wall by placing furniture or other items against it.
Planning and Permitting
That’s why it's crucial to understand how you plan to use your finished basement, so you can design the heating and cooling system to fit your needs best. Will the basement be used as a game room, a home gym, a family hangout area, an extra bedroom, a dance studio, or a recording studio? How often will you use the space? Are there any bathrooms in the basement? All these questions help to determine what HVAC solution will work best for you.
Leaving enough space for the HVAC solution requires proper planning. If you are thinking about finishing your basement, let us at SkyWalker HAVC come by and do an extensive calculation to help determine what the best plan is for your budget and use of the basement. Schedule an appointment today!
In most homes, the basement is where some of the HVAC units are located, such as the furnace, boiler, and air conditioning components. The design of the basement needs to consider how to provide access to these units while still creating a pleasing aesthetic space.
If you already have a finished basement, we can still work around the existing space and come up with a solution for heating and cooling. Contact us!
Depending on the city or town you live in, there may be specific code requirements as to what you can do in the basement for heating and cooling. Certain building codes may require gas furnaces to have specific ventilation. We can help you with this by verifying with the local regulations to help guide you on what HVAC system is possible.
Air Quality Issues
Often, people don’t understand the importance of air quality, especially in basements. In Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts, we experience humid summers, and basements can accumulate a significant amount of humidity. If the finished basement buildout does not take this into consideration, you can have mold, mildew, and other air quality issues.
The dampness and moisture that builds up in the basement are very different than the rest of the house. Using dehumidifiers and/or air conditioners in the basement may be required to reduce humidity and moisture. It is important to get the calculations right, as taking too much moisture out of the air can cause other problems.
How to Cool Your Finished Basement
Many basements are naturally cooler in the summer than the rest of the house due to being partly or entirely underground. However, even with this, the humid, hot summers can still cause the basement to be too warm and create unhealthy humidity levels.
Some of the options we listed above will give both heating and cooling through the HVAC solution. Mini-split heat pumps can both heat and cool, but you may also need an additional dehumidifier, depending on the space and its moisture levels. The mini-split is excellent for offering both heating and cooling in one independent, cost-effective unit. And no ductwork is needed!
If you have a central air conditioner system for the main house, you can connect to it with additional ductwork. However, as we mentioned earlier, you may need to upgrade the air conditioner to ensure it can handle the additional square footage.
Another option for cooling the finished basement is using a portable plug-in air conditioning unit. This, in combination with a small dehumidifier, can work well for the short humid season we have in New England. These units are inexpensive and can be put away after the summer, freeing up more space in the finished basement for the rest of the year.
When Remodeling your house the HVAC system needs to be part of the plan!
How HVAC Fits In Your Southern New Hampshire Remodel
Before remodeling or adding any additions to your home, it’s essential to consider how these changes will impact your HVAC system. As we discussed earlier, any space that is going to be added to an existing HVAC system may push the system and overload its heating and cooling capacity. It is common for people to overlook the HVAC system and how their remodel or addition will affect their heating and cooling needs.
During the design and concept phase, it is important to include the HVAC strategy so that you can optimize the best plan of action for your new space. If you are adding a new addition that doesn’t require any demolition to the existing building, you can avoid having to disrupt the current HVAC system. If you are undertaking an extensive interior remodel, it is a good idea to bring in a certified HVAC contractor to assess how to safely maintain the existing heating and cooling system during the construction phase.
If the current HVAC system is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it at the time of the remodel to ensure it can be done more efficiently. When you're already undertaking a remodel and disrupting things, adding an HVAC improvement makes logical sense. You don’t want to finish the remodel and then, in 2 years, need to replace the HVAC system and disrupt things again. It’s also
Construction debris, dust, and other contaminants can be hazardous to your lungs and HVAC systems. If you have a ducted system, those particles can get into the system, and when the HVAC unit is on, it will disperse all those particulates into the indoor air. Using an air purifier during the construction phase and shutting down the HVAC system is essential. You should cover vents and air returns going into the ductwork. Any openings in the HVAC unit should be covered with materials that prevent airborne particulates from entering the system.
Building Contractors do a great job with the construction and design, but it’s essential to have a qualified HVAC technician on the team to hold the building contractor accountable for planning an air quality program during the remodeling phase. All too often, the building contractor overlooks the potential for dust and contaminants in the HVAC system.
By performing extra cleaning during construction, you can reduce the amount of airborne particles. Construction dust can be very unhealthy, containing numerous chemicals that are generally not found in the home. Asking for as much of the construction to be done outside or in a specified area can also reduce these harmful particles. Wiping down surfaces as part of the regular cleanup by the construction crew and vacuuming go a long way in keeping the air clean.
Even if you take all precautionary measures during the remodeling phase, it is a good idea to have the ductwork professionally cleaned after all construction. You will also want to replace all air filters after the indoor work is finished.
Well, I hope this helps you understand how your HVAC is part of any remodel. The air comfort and quality are critical to any finished space. Feel free to contact us at SkyWalker HVAC for help in planning your remodel. We are happy to come and provide a consultation to explain the options available to you. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment or use our online form here.
