Understanding the Need for Basement Climate Control
A finished basement is a great way to expand the livable space within your home. The additional square footage will not only give you and your family more room to live and grow, it will also likely increase the value of your home. But to get the most of a below-ground expansion, it must be done right. That includes installing proper heating and air conditioning to address the special requirements of a basement environment.
Unless the basement of your home was finished out when it was built, your existing AC unit was probably not sized to accommodate it. Upgrading to a new whole-home system can be a costly and disruptive undertaking – involving not only the purchase and installation of new equipment, but the addition of bulky ductwork to an already low basement ceiling. Simply extending your ductwork to include the new space might sound like a less expensive alternative, but it still means adding bulky ductwork to your new space. Doing so can also overtax your current air conditioner, raising your electric bills and increasing the likelihood of maintenance issues down the road.
There are also temperature and humidity issues to consider when equipping a basement space with HVAC. Being below ground, basements tend to run cooler and more humid than the above-ground portions of a home. During the winter, basement heat rises, leaving the space cooler than the rest of the house. In summer, cool moisture from the surrounding ground increases humidity within the space.
So what’s the right answer for your newly remodeled basement?
We suggest a mini-split.
Why a Mini-Split is a Great Choice for Your Basement
There are several reasons a mini-split is ideal for basement applications. Because mini-splits are ductless and capable of both heating and cooling duties, they can be used to condition small spaces without the need for bulky ductwork.
In addition to pulling double duty as a heating and cooling system, mini-splits have built-in dehumidifying capabilities, eliminating the need for a separate piece of equipment to help regulate basement humidity during the summer. This all-in-one solution makes it easy to maintain a comfortable, healthy living environment in your new man cave or those extra bedrooms year-round.
Mini-splits also offer zoning capabilities. That means even if your basement is divided into several rooms, you can adapt your system to move air to those zones – and even control each zone individually. Zoning can require the addition of ductwork and separate controls, but when compared to a whole-home system adaptation, the inconvenience and expense are minimal.
Because of their simplicity and ductless design, mini-splits are also highly efficient. The lack of ductwork reduces the possibility of energy loss from leaky ducts now and over the life of your system. This lowers energy consumption and results in lower energy bills when compared to traditional systems.
Along with the climate control benefits of a mini-split system, they are also easier to install than a traditional HVAC system. Their simple design makes the installation process less invasive and time-consuming, eliminating the hassles of adding ductwork to your newly finished space and reducing up-front labor costs.
Installation Considerations for Mini-Splits in Basement
To ensure you get the right installation for your basement, you should connect with a local HVAC professional and have them advise you on the best way forward. Once a technician has surveyed your space, they’ll be able to recommend the right equipment and configuration to heat and cool it.
Several things come into play when installing a mini-split, especially in an environment like a basement. Proper load calculation is critical in any HVAC application. Load calculation is the formula a technician uses to determine how the size air conditioner your space needs, a unit’s load rating is expressed in tons. Installing a system that is too small can result in higher energy and maintenance costs, while installing one that is more than needed translates to higher up-front costs.
Along with system size, optimum placement of the system within your space will ensure your mini-split performs at peak efficiency. Whether you’re cooling a single-zone or multiple spaces within your basement, determining the best location based on airflow, entry and exit points, and any necessary ducting requirements for multi-zone applications will help optimize the unit’s performance – and your family’s comfort.
Why Choose a Lennox Mini-Split for Your Basement
Lennox mini-splits offer an energy-efficient, easy to operate solution for most basement environments. The integrated heating, cooling, and dehumidifying capability of a mini-split makes it an ideal all-in-one system for maintaining a comfortable basement living space.
Highly efficient Lennox mini-splits can deliver energy-efficiency ratings up to 25 SEER2 and 11 HSPF2, saving you hundreds of dollars a year over other systems.
As with all of our equipment, Lennox takes into account more than just performance. Our mini-splits are also engineered for whisper quiet operation, so your AC won’t disturb you in your theater room, and you won’t be startled every time the unit starts and stops. Our wall mount units are also designed to be visually attractive and simple with clean lines, allowing them to blend into your environment while they do their job.
Our mini-splits also employ Lennox’ air dispersal technology, producing a gentle flow of air that maintains optimal temperatures without any uncomfortable blasts of air on startup – which can be noticeable in smaller spaces.
Lennox mini-split systems are also SmartThings compatible, allowing you to integrate your mini-split into your smart home. With the SmartThings app, you can automate and control the temperature of your basement getaway from your smartphone, ensuring the temperature is always just right for family movie night.
As you see, there are many things to consider when adding an HVAC system to a basement – and many reasons a Lennox mini-split might be the right answer. Give your local Lennox dealer a call today and let one of our skilled pros help you design the perfect system for your basement hideaway.
This has been reviewed by Justin Huntington, Director of Product Management – Indoor Cooling, for accuracy. Justin brings 12 years of expertise in the HVAC space.
