Finishing your basement can increase your property value and give you and your household extra space to spread out. Whether your finished basement serves as a movie room or additional living quarters, you will want to make sure that it is just as comfortable as the rest of the house. Here are some of the best heating and cooling options to consider for your newly finished basement.
Before getting started, you will want to figure out basic points such as how often you will be using your basement, if there are bathrooms or bedrooms and will it be occupied by children, seniors or pets. Considering these components will help you narrow down what kind of heating and cooling will be most suitable.
Now we can go over the options on how to cool your basement. Although basements are normally naturally colder than the rest of the house because heat rises, you will still want to have ways to beat the heat when it is in use.
First, you can extend your existing HVAC system. If your current HVAC has the capacity for additional space you can extend it through ductwork and installing registers. If your system can not take on any more square footage, talk to an HVAC professional about possibly upgrading your system.
Your second option could be a ductless mini split system. If you don't want to go through the hassle of installing ductwork, this is a very convenient option. For this, there will be an outdoor unit as well as an indoor unit that can be mounted to the wall or ceiling. If you don’t like the look of a unit in your basement, this might be an option to pass on.
For our last option, we recommend a portable basement air conditioner. This is a quick, budget-friendly option, but it will not be the most efficient. If your basement is large you may need to buy more than one. We recommend this option if you don’t plan on occupying your basement often.
Heating your basement may be a little trickier than cooling it. Here are some options for heating that we recommend.
Again, you can extend your existing HVAC system. This is one of the easiest and most popular ways to heat and cool your basement. After confirming that your HVAC can take on the extra room, you will need to install ductwork and vents. A huge benefit of this option is that you will be able to control the temperature of your entire home from one thermostat.
Our next option is to add a fireplace. This is something to consider if you have an existing chimney in your home. You can choose between wood or gas models. If you have a smaller basement, this could heat your basement in no time.
Radiant heat is the last option that we recommend. This requires installing panels in your walls or flooring that will emit heat. This option is efficient, relatively easy to install and affordable. It’s definitely one to consider.
Now that you know the heating and cooling options for your finished basement, it’s time to decide what option works best for you. Talk to a professional heating and cooling technician if you are interested in hearing about more options or need to know more information about one option. Already made up your mind? Great! 72 Degrees is here to help with any installation. Call us today at 515-965-7272 or visit our website at 72degrees.com for more information.