If you’re trying to finish your basement and questioning if basement HVAC installation is possible, the answer is yes! You can have cooling installed in your basement. Depending on what sort of HVAC equipment you already have in your home, there are different ways to go about it. You can install a multi-zone thermostat or get another thermostat to give this area independent control. Or possibly a ductless mini-split would be easier for your purposes.

Several Common Obstacles When it Comes Down To Cooling a Basement

While you can install HVAC in the basement, there are some obstacles to think about when it comes to basement cooling. A few of the most typical challenges to remember consist of:

Dampness/humidity. Basements are often dampish, because they are underground. Keeping out excess humidity is a constant battle.
Windows (or lack thereof). Some basements lack windows entirely. Others have very small windows that are typically situated up high at ground level. This can cause poor air quality, which can result in mold growth and health complications.
Additional square footage (when finished later on). When a basement is finished after the rest of the home it adds extra space that needs to be cooled beyond what was originally there when the current a/c unit was installed. The size of a house’s HVAC is determined based upon the amount of square feet to be cooled.

Cooling Solutions for Your Basement HVAC Installation

The good news is that there are lots of cooling options that can make your basement more comfy. These options include:

Dehumidifier. Air conditioners naturally manage humidity levels in any space that is being cooled. Nevertheless, it might still be smart to use a separate dehumidifier to remove even more excess moisture from the air. This guarantees that humidity is appropriately handled and that your air conditioner can run more effectively. The natural dampness of basements can lead to mold and mildew growth if moisture is not kept in check.
Ductless mini-split system. Window systems are either difficult or impossible to use in basements. Ductless mini-split systems are perfect for cooling a single space and only require a little hole in the wall for a pipe to connect to an outside system. They are mounted directly onto the wall and quietly and efficiently cool the room.
Add on to your current central air conditioning system. One alternative is to merely extend your current HVAC system to cool the basement as well. However, this will only work if your current system can manage the extra square footage that your basement will add. Your HVAC technician can determine whether or not your existing system can adequately cool the additional space. If not, you might think about replacing your system with a larger one. This might be a wise option if your existing system is already over eight years old). Nevertheless, if it is reasonably new and does not need replacing, but can not handle the additional load, the ductless mini-split system is still an option.

Other Choices for Effective Basement Cooling

A split system is normally the best option for effective basement cooling. A ductless split system uses 2 separate elements. An outdoor condenser unit and an indoor evaporator coil– that work together to supply both heating and cooling power. The condenser unit sits outside your house and is connected to the evaporator through a line that runs through your attic. This setup keeps your air conditioning costs lower than they would be if you had an entire central system in your basement. This is because only part of it needs to run at any given time.

A ductless split system is also more energy-efficient than central systems. This is because it doesn’t use ductwork or fans to disperse air throughout your house like central systems do. This means that you won’t have hot spots in areas where there’s not enough airflow because the ductless system will heat or cool only the space where you need it most.