Is it Easy to Install AC in an Attic?

If you are in need of more living space for your family, but you don’t want to leave your current home, you may have thought about transforming the attic into a finished space where you can spend time doing various activities. With that in mind, adding AC to your attic would be a big help, as it would make the space comfortable even in the hot summer months. But how much of a challenge is it to cool this part of your home?

 

Working with Berico is the best way to overcome any HVAC challenge. Long respected as a leader in HVAC in Burlington and surrounding areas, Berico has the experience and knowledge necessary to take on even complex projects.

 

The Inherent Challenge

As a homeowner, you may not have a detailed understanding of how the HVAC works in your home. By default, the attic is typically not a climate-controlled space, meaning it isn’t serviced by the heating and cooling that moderates temperatures in the rest of your home. So, if you want to add air conditioning to the attic, there are some hurdles to overcome.

 

Specifically, the lack of ducts serving the attic is something that would need to be addressed. Depending on the design of your home and the current state of the HVAC system, you might be able to tie in new lines that can serve the attic. However, this will be expanding the number of square feet that your HVAC has to serve, meaning your current equipment might then be underpowered for the job.

 

Another Option

Going with a different kind of air conditioning system altogether might be the best bet if you want to cool your attic. A mini-split air conditioning system allows you to place air handling units in various rooms of the house, rather than cooling down the entire house all at the same time. So, for example, you could add cooling to a living room, a couple of bedrooms, and the attic, all through the same mini-split system. Without the need for ductwork, this might be a more manageable install than a traditional system.

 

Don’t Forget Insulation

Currently, your attic is probably not insulated like the rest of your home. So, if you were to add air conditioning without addressing the insulation, the cooling in your attic would be inefficient and rather ineffective. Before you even get to the point of putting in an AC system, be sure you have first addressed the insulation issue.

 

Proper insulation in your air-conditioned attic is important because of how hot an attic can get in the summer months. Sitting at the top of your home, the attic is naturally going to heat up quickly when the sun beats down – and without insulation acting as a barrier, even the best air conditioner is going to face an uphill battle. There are many considerations for turning your attic into a useable space, but Berico can work with you to either expand your existing HVAC or install one specifically for that space.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to Berico today, to get the help you need.