The popularity of basement suite rentals is on the rise, and they’re a great way for homeowners to make extra money! But leasing your home isn’t as simple as painting a few walls and listing your suite on Facebook Marketplace—there are many guidelines you need to follow before you can put your basement up for rent, including how your HVAC is set up.
Below, we’ll discuss a few things first-time landlords should know about their legal basement suite heating and ventilation. Keep reading to learn how our team at Weiss-Johnson can help you follow Edmonton’s HVAC requirements to offer a comfortable home for your tenants!
Edmonton’s Requirements for Legal Suite HVAC
Our local municipality has a few requirements for legal basement suite rentals to ensure they’re safe, comfortable, and homey for potential tenants.
Among the many guidelines for your basement’s floor plan, the City of Edmonton website states that its heating and ventilation system must be separate from the one in the main level of your house.
We all know how it is to be at the mercy of someone else’s temperature bias. To allow your tenant to feel comfortable and safe in their new home, they should have full control over their HVAC settings, allowing them to adjust the heating to their needs and preferences.
Your Options for Basement Heating
Our team at Weiss-Johnson has a long history of outfitting legal suites with the proper HVAC setup. Our options for basement heating are fully aligned with local and provincial regulations to ensure optimal, quality heating for your tenants!
There are a few different heating methods that work well in a basement suite layout. Here’s what we currently offer:
Forced Air Furnace: This type of furnace uses forced air to deliver warmth throughout the home. Installing a forced air system requires associated ductwork throughout your basement level and a secondary furnace. This is a viable option if the size of your mechanical room can accommodate two furnaces.
Electric Baseboard Heat: This heating option uses an HRV system, which is ducted to exhaust from the bathroom(s) and provide clean, fresh air to the main living area! The initial costs for electric baseboard heat are less than those of a forced air furnace, but you will have higher operating costs.
Hydronic Heating: This system also uses HRV via a series of pipes installed below your basement suite’s concrete slab. This is more suited to a suite that you’re fully renovating, as it cannot be installed without pulling up your basement floor. If you are planning a full renovation, this is one of the most comfortable heating options you can provide for your tenants!
How to Maintain Your Legal Suite’s HVAC for Tenants
Properly installing your basement suite’s heating system is only half the battle—you also need to maintain it. As the landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure your tenant’s HVAC system is regularly inspected and serviced, and that any required repairs are provided on your end.
You can trust our team at Weiss-Johnson to offer expert installation, maintenance, and repairs to your legal suite’s HVAC system. 1 in 6 Edmonton homes feature HVAC systems installed by our skilled team, with over 100,000 customers served. Our well-experienced technicians will ensure your tenant receives comfortable temperatures and air quality all year round!
Get Legal Basement Suite Heating and Cooling Services from Weiss-Johnson
Since 1977, Weiss-Johnson has been Edmonton’s top HVAC team. From residential maintenance to new home builds, our technicians are here to help Edmonton locals enjoy optimal air quality, temperature, and comfort in their homes!
Contact us today to get the ball rolling on your legal basement suite heating.
