How HVAC Zoning Can Solve Your Home Comfort Issues

Have you ever wondered why there is an uneven distribution of heated or cooled air throughout your house? Do you want to get rid of hot and cold spots? In this article, we will be talking about HVAC zoning, and why we think you need to consider it for your home.

With this setup, you only have one HVAC system—a furnace combined with an air conditioner, or a heat pump with an air handler are two of the most common choices. It also includes several motor-driven dampers, which allow you to control the airflow to each zone.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your trusted HVAC company in North Oaks MN. Our mission is to help families achieve outstanding heating, cooling, and ventilation throughout their homes.

Why Hot and Cold Spots are a Problem

When you have inconsistent temperatures in different areas of your home, you will experience various problems, such as sleeping issues because it’s too hot, or a basement that no one wants to be in because it’s too cold.

Your house may be equipped with beautiful windows, but those areas tend to be either too hot or too cold, especially if they are single-paned. Glass leaks too much heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.

Why Your Home Needs HVAC Zoning

HVAC zoning is a way to control the temperature for each area in your home instead of heating or cooling the entire house. With this technology, you can set the temperatures for each room depending on the occupant’s preferences.

Normally, there is only one thermostat for every forced-air system, such as a furnace. Once that thermostat is set, each room receives the same temperature, whether it is occupied or not. Not only does this setup waste energy, but it also shortens your equipment’s lifespan because it has to provide your desired temperature to the whole house.

Zoning is the solution to these problems. It is a professionally installed system that is made up of a damper and thermostat for every room in your home. Such a control system is connected to a central control panel that arranges the thermostat’s call with the zone dampers in your HVAC ductwork. These dampers manage and redirect air to specific areas of the home. This setup allows the creation of personalized temperature zones throughout the home for increased comfort and energy- efficiency.

How HVAC Zoning Helps You Save Money on Energy

Since HVAC zoning minimizes the system’s output, you can expect to have lower monthly heating or cooling bills. To achieve this, your home will need a two-stage or a variable-capacity HVAC system. Such a system runs at 65 percent on low setting and 100 percent on high. What this means is that your system now can run at a low stage most of the time, which effectively lowers your energy use.

A seasoned HVAC expert will help you determine what ranges of temperature settings you need to use for different zones to ensure the system runs at low capacity to reduce energy without compromising your family’s comfort levels.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, HVAC zoning can save you up to 30 percent on your heating and cooling expenses.

More Benefits of Having a Zoned HVAC System

Your family members likely have different temperature preferences. You’ll love the idea of having your home HVAC-zoned. Since each room has its own thermostat, there is no need to argue over the settings—each room’s temperature can be set according to the occupant’s taste. Imagine how peaceful your home can be without your family fighting over the thermostat!

If your home has areas you rarely occupy, you probably don’t want to keep heating or cooling them. Therefore, sealing them off and creating a zone makes sense. The heated or cooled air you are sending into those rooms can now be sent to areas that you occupy most of the time.

Ask Four Seasons Air Specialists

If you want to find out more about HVAC zoning, talk to one of our White Bear heating and air conditioning professionals. We’ll answer your questions and provide you with helpful information you need as you look for ways to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.