Best HVAC System for a Small House

Debating over what’s the best HVAC system for little cottage. Learn your options and what you should discuss with your HVAC professional.

LESLIE: Ken in Texas has a question about an HVAC system for a small house. What can we do for you?

KEN: We had a contractor rebuild a little cottage. The upstairs is 790 foot and then the bottom is a garage. And we might make up with it in another bedroom. But we were debating on whether to put in the ductless mini-split system or they mentioned this high-velocity, little 3-inch vent system. But I think I’m pretty much going to go with the ductless mini-split.

TOM: Yeah. The high-velocity systems are good for – especially for older houses where it’s hard to run ductwork. But I found that they’re pretty expensive, especially in a small project like that. I think a ductless mini-split will work fine for an HVAC system for a small house and you can get one that both heats and cools.

Now, how many rooms are in this 700-square-foot cottage?

KEN: Well, it’s like 795 upstairs. But what I was figuring on is going with the 48,000 BTU and then go – or 4,800, excuse me. And then do two 18 where we’re going to live at, 18 upstairs and one 12,000 downstairs. Does that sound right?

TOM: Well, there’s a heat-loss calculation that you can do and your HVAC contractor should do for you. But my – the reason I asked you about how many rooms is you just want to make sure that the A/C can get to all the rooms, because split-ductless means it’s one point.

KEN: It’s one great, big room upstairs: you know, one open room upstairs. And I was going to put one on each end.

LESLIE: I think you’re best to consult with an HVAC pro. You have to also keep in mind that each of the split systems – the one piece that’s on the inside goes to its own individual condensing unit on the exterior. Now, there are commercial-grade split systems that I’ve used on episodes of Hotel Impossible that contain multiple interior units that go to one condensing unit. So, speaking with a pro, they might be able to give you a better idea of which HVAC system for little cottage would work well to minimize the amount of units on the exterior and maximize the amount of cooling.

TOM: Ken, good luck with that project.