This page covers installing cooling where there was none: a room addition, a backyard casita, a converted garage or workshop, or a new custom home. Replacing an existing system is a different job; see our AC replacement page for that.
Additions and converted garages
Tapping an addition into the existing system rarely works well. The original unit was sized for the original house, and stretching ducts to a new room usually leaves it the hottest room in the home. Common solutions:
- Ductless mini-split: one indoor head, one small outdoor unit, no ductwork.
- Dedicated small split system: for larger additions with attic space.
- Upsizing the main system: only when the load calculation supports it and ducts can carry the extra air.
Casitas and guest houses
Detached structures in Chandler backyards need their own equipment. Mini-splits are the usual choice, with a heat pump model providing winter heat as well. Plan the electrical run from the main panel early; it often decides the budget.
Garages and workshops
Chandler garages can exceed 110°F in summer. An uninsulated garage is very hard to cool. Insulating walls and the garage door first lets a modest mini-split do the job.
New construction
For new homes we work from the plans: room-by-room load calculation, duct design with returns in every bedroom, equipment location and drain routing. Getting this right before drywall is far cheaper than fixing it later.
Permits
New installations in Chandler typically need mechanical and electrical permits, and the city’s permit manual notes that electrical load calculations may be required. We prepare the paperwork and schedule inspections.
Adding air conditioning in Chandler? Call 480-719-8109 — a real person in the East Valley answers.