Best Heating and Cooling Options for a Finished Basement in Kansas City
Many homes in the US are fitted with basements, but oftentimes, these are just left unfinished and used for storage. If you have a finished basement, this is a great way to expand the space in your home and have another area for you and your family to spend time in. However, you’ll want to consider the best heating and cooling options for your finished basement to offer your family a comfortable experience in the room. Keep reading as we share some of the top options to keep your basement at an optimum temperature all year round.
Portable Air Conditioners and Heaters
Portable heaters and air conditioners are a good temporary option for your basement but won’t necessarily be the best long-term solution. They are ideal for smaller basements, but if your space is particularly large, you’ll need multiple units to make a difference in the temperature. A portable air conditioner is usually more effective than a heater and will work well in spaces of under about 400 square feet. Make sure you have a drain to connect the condensate line. If you have a larger space, you may need to have a couple of air conditioners, and humid basements will also benefit from a dehumidifier as well.
Extend Your Home’s Current System
One consideration is extending your home’s current heating or cooling system, which is well worth considering if you are planning to spend a lot of time in your finished basement. An HVAC technician can come and inspect your current system to see if adding your basement on would be a possibility for your home. This work will be quite expensive, but it is an option that we would recommend if you are planning to use this room every day.
A Ductless Mini-Split System
One of the best ways to heat or cool down your basement is by installing a ductless mini-split system. This is a quick and easy solution to install, and it can heat and cool your whole basement regardless of its size. It is also very energy efficient, and you’ll only have to use it when the room is occupied if you prefer. No ductwork is required to install this option, making it one of the most popular choices for homeowners with a finished basement.
Radiant Heating Panels
If heating is the biggest concern for your basement, consider radiant heating panels. This would be an ideal option for anyone living in the north, where you may find heating is more of a concern than cooling down your basement. They can be switched on and off as needed, so in the summer, you won’t need to use them when the outside temperatures are higher. In addition, they work very quickly and efficiently to heat up your basement, as they are made with fast-responding electrical resistance coils. Heating up a basement is often far more challenging than cooling it down, so this is a good option to consider in colder climates.
Radiant Floor Heat
Another option for homeowners that are particularly concerned about heating up the basement is radiant floor heat. Flooring people can install electrical heating cable under tile floors during installation that is very nice for heating. These aren’t too difficult to install and will be a relatively affordable option in comparison to some of the other solutions on the market. If you are opting for something like this, you’ll likely want to invest in portable air conditioners in the summer months when you have a period of higher temperatures and need to cool your basement down.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many great options when it comes to cooling and heating your finished basement. While all of these solutions have different costs and levels of work involved, depending on how much you are planning to use your basement, they’ll be an option here that will work for your home. A basement is an excellent extra space for families, and it’s well worth making this area of your home comfortable so you can enjoy the benefits of having an additional room to spend time in.