Creating a legal basement suite is an exciting way to add value to your home, but it comes with unique considerations. In today’s blog the Home Comfort Advisors at Action Furnace will go over everything you need to know about HVAC system upgrades, maintenance and more!
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Alberta is booming! And as a result our rental market is hot, availability is low, and competition is high. So many of our customers are considering adding a secondary suite in their home to take advantage of this influx.
In today’s blog, the Home Comfort Advisors at Action Furnace will explore the most popular and essential heating and indoor air quality upgrades you should consider when adding a legal basement suite in Alberta.
Creating a legal basement suite is an exciting way to add value to your home, but it comes with unique considerations. So let’s dive in!
Alberta’s Legal Requirements For Secondary Suites
To transform your basement into a legal suite, it’s crucial to understand the specific HVAC requirements that keep your tenants safe, indoor air quality high, and temperatures balanced year round.
The Government of Alberta defines a secondary suite as a self-contained dwelling created within an existing single dwelling (i.e. a house). A secondary suite is only permitted in certain places and instances, and the approval process will be done through your local municipality.
In order for your basement or secondary suite to be approved and legal there are a variety of standards and requirements your building needs to meet including window size, exits and ceiling heights. But let’s focus on the HVAC ones!
At the very least, the home containing the suite needs to have interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to cover both dwellings. It’s even better if the secondary suite has its own detectors.
Gas furnaces and gas powered water heaters need to be in their own enclosed room with fire protected drywall on the walls and ceiling. This helps prevent smoke and fire damage, as well as other health and safety hazards.
Your secondary suite also needs to have an independent ventilation system, this helps keep the indoor air quality between dwellings from affecting each other.
If you’re not sure if your existing infrastructure is up to code, or if you’re not sure where to start, give our friendly team a call for your comprehensive inspection. Our knowledgeable technicians will examine your systems from top to bottom and make recommendations based on your unique needs and budget.
Assessing Your Current HVAC System
If you’ve decided on a basement suite as your secondary dwelling, here are some common issues you or our team might come across during your initial evaluation, including:
- Moisture control
- Uneven heating
- Air quality concerns
If you think you might struggle with any of the above issues, don’t panic. The following upgrade recommendations should do the trick!
HVAC Upgrades For Compliance & Comfort
High-Efficiency Furnaces
High-efficiency gas furnaces offer a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional gas models. They utilize fuel more efficiently, reducing waste and emissions, and tend to be more economical than electric furnaces.
Action Furnace is consistently leading the way in furnace installation and has perfected the design and set-up of modern residential systems, including those for secondary suites. Give us a call today!
Humidifiers
A whole-home, or in this case whole-suite, humidifier is a device you can add to your HVAC system to improve humidity levels and indoor air quality throughout the home. They differ from point-of-use or stand-along systems which can only improve humidity in a small area.
Air Purifiers
At Action Furnace, we carry a wide range of both air filtration and air purification systems that help remove particles and pollutants from the air, helping to increase air quality for your tenants. They are an especially useful addition if you plan on allowing pets.
Ductwork
While Action Furnace doesn’t install ductwork, it’s still an important consideration to include. Upgrading your duct work along with upgrading your heating system ensures efficiency and helps extend the lifespan of your equipment.
Once your new ducts are installed however, make sure to schedule a comprehensive duct cleaning from our experts! Our team of technicians will inspect and clean every duct and vent in the suite using the most up to date tools and techniques. These guys are also the best in skill, attitude and workmanship, and they’ll care for your home and complete the job with speed and precision.
Energy Efficiency Considerations
We have a few blogs on this, but ensuring your basement suite is properly insulated will go a long way in ensuring energy efficiency. As will professional, regular maintenance. So, every year, call in the maintenance experts at Action Furnace for a thorough furnace tune-up!
Evaluation
When you book your comprehensive furnace tune-up one of our experienced technicians will come to your home to begin the evaluation process.
During your evaluation, your technician will carefully examine your furnace from top to bottom looking for signs of damage, electrical issues, strange smells, or gas leaks.
This evaluation will quickly give you the best tune-up options. You will then be presented with a quote specifically tailored to your needs.
Recommendation
Our technicians guarantee to have your detailed quote delivered to you on the spot, no waiting around here!
All recommendations are thoroughly explained and consider your home's efficiency and power needs.
Finally with Action Furnace’s No Surprise Guarantee the investment quoted is what you will pay. No additional chargers during or after your tune-up.
Tune-Up
Our furnace technicians are highly trained and qualified to ensure you get the best out of your furnace.
Our 50 point service includes:
- Check gas pressures on 1st & 2nd stage
- Igniter performance.
- Temperature heat rise.
- Blower motor efficiency
- Complete safety check.
Tune-ups can take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on the complexity of your system. But no matter the time frame our team is dedicated to providing you clean and respectful service and will complete your service with interruption to your day to day life.
And Stay On Top Of Annual Maintenance!
Tune-ups aren’t a set and forget type of thing, ensure your equipment runs in top notch condition, with regular maintenance from Action Furnace’s Comfort Club.
For one low monthly price your system tune-ups will be pre scheduled and you’ll enjoy front of the line, priority service, 50% off diagnostic fees and 10% off any future repairs. Talk to your technician to learn more, or call our friendly customer service team!
By following HVAC requirements and investing in the installation and maintenance of the proper equipment, you’ll ensure your basement suite not only meets Alberta’s legal standards but also provides a safe, comfortable, and inviting space for your tenants. If you need any help along your suite building journey, give us a call. Our dedicated customer service representatives are standing by!
We hope you’ve found today’s blog helpful and we’ll see you next time!
Why Choose Action Furnace
Action Furnace has been Alberta’s home comfort leader since 1975, here’s only some of the reasons homeowners keep calling us back!
- Available when you need us.
- Fully stocked service trucks.
- Professional, continuously trained technicians.
- Industry-leading guarantees and warranties.
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