What Type Of Heating Is Best For An Attached In-Law Suite?
Posted on: 11 July 2017
Home additions or basement renovations are some of the most efficient ways to add space to your home so an adult child or aging parent can move into your home. However, these spaces can be a little tricky to heat without some careful preparations. Decide how you want to heat your in-law suite before starting the construction or renovation so you can plan accordingly for the equipment you choose to install.
Local Code
Start your in-law suite planning by checking all the local county and municipal building codes relevant to your project. Many areas mandate that these kinds of apartments or suites are either attached to the home's heating system or feature their own independent heating equipment. This is so that if you sell the home and the new owner tries to rent out the suite as an apartment, the future tenants have safe heating access. You don't want to run afoul of the local codes and pay the stiff fines associated with the violations.
Space Saving
Most basement renovations and additions are kept as small as possible in order to control costs and save some of the budget for furnishing and decorating the new space. Making the most of each square foot means that bulky traditional furnaces are not so popular for in-law suites that require separate heating. If you can't connect your addition to your home's existing heating system, a compact system like a heat pump is a good use of space. Most of the equipment is located outdoors and only small indoor units are necessary for delivering both heating and cooling. Don't forget about the space necessary for ducts inside the walls or ceilings, which are eliminated with ductless heat pumps.
Direct Connection
For small in-law suites attached directly to the home, tying the space into the existing heated area of the home is usually the best choice. If your system is already near to its limit for your current floor space, consider upgrading to a more efficient furnace that is sized for the new total space. You don't want to overload your aging furnace or rely on costly space heaters because there's too little heat reaching the in-law suite.
Zoned Heating
Turning your home's heating equipment into a zoned system will benefit both the residents of the main home and the in-law suite. Zoned heating allows a room's residents to set their own temperatures for just their zone, resulting in lower energy costs and better comfort levels. This kind of zoned control is sometimes mandated in local building codes as well when separate heating equipment is not required.
Contact a company like Dalton Heating & Air Conditioning for more information and assistance.
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