In traditional central HVAC systems, air flows evenly from the vents, and the temperature is consistent throughout the home. There are some downsides to this approach. Having different temperatures in various areas of the home simply isn’t possible. There’s also no way to control the airflow balance in the ducts. Larger rooms can have extra vents, but that’s the extent of the control. With zoned HVAC, you have finer control over both temperature and balance.
1. Improved Comfort
You can adjust all the comfort settings in each zone independently. Issues where the upstairs is hotter or there are cold spots in particular rooms aren’t as common with zoned systems. Some zoned systems let you adjust relative humidity (RH) as well. That lets you set a zone to what you want it to feel like rather than what is technically. This can make a big difference, for instance, in rooms that get a lot of natural sunlight and in kitchens and bathrooms. You can also set zones to get ventilation even when the heat or AC isn’t running in that area.
2. Lower Heating and Cooling Costs
If you use your zones strategically, you can lower your annual heating and cooling costs by a significant amount. In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that the average home will lower their energy costs by 30%. It’s important to have a smart thermostat and to schedule regular maintenance, including air balancing when needed. You should also set the zones you’re not using to the highest or lowest practical setting. You could, for instance, maintain cool sleeping temperatures in the bedrooms while the rest of the home is much warmer.
3. Longer Equipment Lifespan
Zoning extends HVAC equipment lifespan on several fronts. Central zoned systems have a multistage or variable-stage blower. That means that the system doesn’t need to run full blast all the time. It can ramp up and down based on the current heating and cooling needs. The system also doesn’t need to provide as much heating and cooling throughout the home as a traditional system does. That means that there’s a lot less wear and tear on the equipment over the years. This added lifespan is often more than enough to cover the added initial cost of the zoning.
4. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Air conditioners and heat pumps in cooling mode are the biggest contributors to the average American household’s carbon footprint. Air conditioners now account for more greenhouse gases than the world’s entire aviation industry. A 30% reduction per household is a lot. If we could upgrade every home today, we’d reduce greenhouse gases by many billions of pounds per year.
5. Multiple Thermostats and Remote Control
Zoned HVAC systems will generally have a dedicated thermostat for each zone. To ease thermostat positioning requirements, many of these thermostats support remote sensors. You can have multiple remote sensors per zone for temperature and RH. Many systems let you control all zones from every thermostat. Voice control is a common feature. Many brands include remotes for their zones. Some even have an app so that you can use your phone instead.
6. Ducted or Ductless
Zoning is an option with both ductless and ducted HVAC systems. In central setups, the system will have a variable-speed air handler and active duct dampers. Some systems also employ smart vents and multistage condenser pumps. Ductless systems offer inherent zoning. The typical outdoor condenser unit supports between one and eight indoor units. You’ll just need as many indoor units as you need zones.
7. Better Air Quality
Zoned systems provide superior ventilation options and often have a recirculation mode. The other advantage is that a zoned system may isolate each distinct zone from the others. You also have greater control when it comes to HVAC upgrades, such as air purifiers, UV lamps, dehumidifiers and humidifiers.
Would You Like to Upgrade to Zoned HVAC?
If you’d like to upgrade your home with zoned HVAC in Middletown, WK Mechanical, Inc. can help. Our HVAC technicians specialize in both ducted and ductless HVAC systems. That includes boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners and mini-splits. We also specialize in air quality and install and service both air purifiers and UV lamps. Our company installs and services water filtration and softening systems. We install and service standby generators as well. Call today or contact us online to learn more about these products and services and to schedule an appointment.
