Heating and Cooling an In-Law Suite

Despite the common name, in-law suites don’t have to only be for in-laws. You can use your new living space for family members, or even rent it out as an apartment to tenants for extra income.

An in-law suite is simply a smaller residence, usually near the main house. These suites are often converted garages, basements or attics. Before beginning construction, talk to a local Trane dealer, and be sure to consider local regulations.

Square footage

Since the square footage will be significantly smaller than a typical home, heating and cooling the in-law suite will require a less powerful system. Your local dealer can help you find an HVAC system configuration that will match the size and layout of your home’s added living space.

Ductwork

During the planning stage, you’ll have to decide whether ductwork will be installed, and where it will be positioned in relation to the HVAC system. If you decide not to install ductwork, ductless heating and cooling systems are a popular choice for smaller-footprint homes.

Utilities

If your home’s added living space will be fed by both natural gas and electric lines, you’ll have a wide range of heating and cooling options for your in-law suite. However, if the residence will be electric only, your choices will be more limited. Talk to your local Trane dealer to learn about the HVAC options available with your utility configuration.

Get an estimate from your local dealer

Planning the heating and cooling system is a vital part of building an in-law suite, so be sure to contact your local Trane dealer to learn about your HVAC options before breaking ground. Choosing the right HVAC system at the outset will be much more cost effective than adding a new system to an existing structure.