As you move about your home, do you experience hot and cold spots? Is the upstairs always much warmer than the downstairs? Do the big, beautiful windows in your living room make it difficult to maintain a steady, comfortable temperature? Would you like for your home office to be a different temp than your kitchen or bedroom? Zoning could be the answer!
What is Zoning?
A zoning system (also known as zoned HVAC) uses dampers in your ductwork to manage airflow and direct heated or cooled air to specific areas of your home, each of which has its own thermostat. For example, if your husband prefers his mancave to be a chilly 68° but you prefer to read your book in a balmy 75° den, zoning allows you to do this. It simply turns the A/C on, opens the dampers in the mancave and shuts them in the den, keeping things nice and comfy for both of you.
Is Zoning Right For Your Home?
Zoning can be a great option for just about any home. But if any of the following conditions apply to you, zoning could make a significant difference to your comfort:
- You experience uneven temperatures throughout your house.
- You have a multi-level home or a large floor plan with multiple wings.
- You have high ceilings.
- You have lots of large windows, such as picture or bay windows or glass doors.
- You have atypical spaces, such as a finished basement or attic room, a sunroom, or a room over your garage.
- You have rooms that are rarely used.
- You have family members that constantly fight over the temperature in the house.
A newer home that has been built to accommodate a zoned HVAC system will certainly be easier (and cheaper) to zone. But even if you have an older home, don’t let that deter you—the ductwork in most homes can be retrofitted for zoning.
How Many Zones Does Your Home Need?
Speaking with an HVAC expert is the first step to figuring out how many zones would be appropriate for your needs. If you find the temperatures in your home are significantly different upstairs compared to downstairs, they may suggest one zone per floor. Or you may find you’d like each room to have its own zone. The sky’s the limit! (Though keep in mind, the more zones you have, the more expensive the system will be to install.)
What Are the Advantages of Zoning?
You mean, aside from a more comfortable home? Zoning helps your HVAC system run more efficiently, which can also save you money on your monthly bills—up to 30%, according to the US Department of Energy. This is because those dampers divert air away from areas that don’t need it, so the system doesn’t have to work as hard to cool or heat the areas where you want it most. Zoning is much more efficient than simply closing off the air vents in each room—and less likely to damage your HVAC system, as well.
Are you ready to make the switch to zoned HVAC? We’re happy to talk it through and answer any questions you may have. Just give us a call!