HVAC Zoning: Is it Worth The Investment?
As the years go by, HVAC systems get better and better. HVAC manufacturers consistently work to address problems that homeowners have with their systems to make them function better. One of the newer advancements that homeowners are taking advantage of is HVAC zoning.
What Is HVAC Zoning?
Also referred to as zoned HVAC systems, these types of systems allow you to have different temperatures for different zones of your home. For example, let’s say you have a two-story home with one zone for the second level and one zone for the first level. You can set the zone downstairs at 72 degrees while setting the upstairs zone at 68 degrees. HVAC zoning can work for both heating and cooling systems and uses unique thermostats for each zone.
How Does HVAC Zoning Work?
These systems work by regulating the flow of treated air through your ductwork by using dampers. Sticking with the example above, let’s say that the second level of your home drops down to 67 degrees while the first level is still at a nice 72 degrees. Your heating system will kick on to produce heat to warm up the second level. Its zoning components will close the dampers for the ductwork that leads to the downstairs rooms. This setup allows heat from your furnace to flow through your ducting only to the second level, where it’s actually needed.
How Many Zones Can You Have?
In theory, you can have as many zones as you would like. You could have every room in your home in its own zone. While this is fully possible, it’s not typically cost-effective to do so. It’s generally recommended to put each level of your home in its own zone as well as any large rooms. It’s important to remember that the more zones you add to your home, the more expensive installing the zone-specific ducting, dampers, and thermostats will be.
Situations Where HVAC Zoning is Recommended
There are various reasons that you may want to consider HVAC zoning for your home. One of the most common situations where it can be extremely helpful is when you have multiple levels but they all seem to be at different temperatures. For example, it’s super common for the lower levels of your home to get colder faster in the wintertime than the upper levels. This is simply because heat rises over time. By separating these zones, you can have the heat turn on just for the lower levels to warm up your home without causing the upper levels to get too hot.
Another reason to consider HVAC zoning is when you have rooms with large windows or high ceilings. Just like with the two-story, heat can get trapped at the top of rooms with high ceilings. A zone system allows you to get more heat to those high-ceiling rooms without wasting energy on continually heating the rest of your home. Furthermore, rooms that have a lot of windows tend to experience more temperature swings than rooms that don’t. Zoned HVAC systems allow you to address those temperature swings without altering the temperature in other rooms of your home.
The Main Benefits of Zoned HVAC Systems
One of the most obvious benefits of a zoned HVAC system is it allows you to be more comfortable in your home. You don’t have to worry about being overheated in one room and too cold in another. Your zone system can allow each zone to reach its ideal temperature setting without affecting any other zone. You can finally say goodbye to those unpleasant hot and cold spots throughout the year.
Additionally, these systems allow you to be more energy efficient. Instead of having to heat your entire home when only one of the rooms is getting cold, you can use much less energy by just heating the cold room. By being more specific with your temperature demands, you can not only save money but also enjoy a longer HVAC system lifespan. This is because there will be less wear and tear on your system as well as a lower runtime than with non-zoned systems.
Reliable HVAC Zoning Service
Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling offers reliable HVAC zoning services to Windsor, ON and the surrounding communities. Our technicians can help with all your air conditioning, heating, heat pump, heat recovery ventilation system, air purification, ductless mini-split system, and water heater needs. Call us today to set up an appointment with one of our highly skilled technicians.