If you are tired of paying for cooling or heating in unused areas of your home, then having a zoning system might be your best solution. There are various ways to implement a zoning system, but the easiest way to do it is by setting up mechanical dampers and central zone controllers in your duct system. Conventionally, a thermostat is directly connected to your HVAC system. But with a zoning system, your thermostat is connected to your zone controller and later connected to your HVAC system and the dampers.
An AC zoning controller enables you to set precise temperatures for different parts of your residential property. An AC system sends conditioned air only to the areas where it is needed, utilizing the damper system. That means you will not waste energy heating unused or unoccupied rooms, saving you money. Here are some other ways zoning systems can save you money.
1. It Makes Your House More Comfortable
With a zoning system, every member of your family can decide how cool or warm they would like their separate bedrooms to be during the night time. If you feel too cold or hot during the daytime, you can easily change the temperature in one zone instead of changing the air conditioning or heating for your entire house. That way, you will be able to keep everyone in your family comfortable and avoid constant fights among them about thermostat settings.
For more convenience, you can consider going for a zoning unit with remote control. Many smart thermostats can also enable you to control different zones in your home, and some models allow you to change settings from your smartphone or computer.
2. You Don’t Need a Large HVAC System
HVAC units with zoning utilize less energy, which means you will not need a large system to cool or heat your home properly. A smaller HVAC unit is less costly and pretty easy to install. Furthermore, you can have an HVAC technician set up one main control system for the various thermostats you have in your zoning systems for more convenience.
If you have a big home with many floors, installing zoning systems can help you save more energy and money. Other features such as high ceilings, sunrooms, lofts, and large windows can also cause temperature variations. If your home has any of these features, you can benefit from installing several zoning systems and thermostats. Working with an HVAC expert is vital to ensuring that zoning is done according to your current duct system and structural issues.
You can select a ductless zoning unit with separate indoor handling units for each zone. In this case, you will have a small conduit connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor units, but you can also set each zone and indoor air handler to a separate temperature. If you are not comfortable with a ductless zoning system, you can consider going for a zoning system with various automatic dampers to change the flow of air inside your ductwork seamlessly.
3. It Makes Your HVAC Unit More Energy Efficient
Installing a zoning system in your home can make your HVAC unit more energy efficient. That’s because it will help you determine the rooms or parts of your home that need heating or cooling. That way, you don’t have to heat rooms in your home that no one is using. For instance, if you have rarely used guest rooms, you don’t have to waste energy to keep them warm. A zoning system will help you turn that zone off until your guests arrive and need their rooms warmed. That can be a great strategy for conserving energy, saving you money on your utility bills throughout the year.
4. It Extends the Lifespan of Your HVAC Unit
Installing zoning systems extends your air conditioning and heating unit’s lifespan by reducing your HVAC system’s wear and tear. It also prevents expensive and inconvenient breakdowns. Controlling your zoning system with a smart thermostat can also prevent problems and help you save on energy. You can also set your programmable thermostat to turn down your air conditioner or heater when you retire to bed or leave for work.
Most modern models can also remind you to have your unit checked by an HVAC professional or to change your air filter. Some units can also monitor airflow or measure humidity in your home. That way, you can handle any HVAC system problems before they become bigger and costly to solve.
5. It Improves the Air Quality in Your Home
Traditional HVAC units usually spread air pollutants, but units with zoning regulate airflow in different zones. By segregating your residential property into different zones, you will be minimizing the circulation of allergens such as dirt, dust, pet dander, mold, and pollen. It will also prevent these pollutants from being blown from room to room. That way, the air inside your residence will be healthier to breathe, which might help people who suffer from skin conditions, asthma, respiratory problems, allergies, itchy eyes, and other health conditions.
A zoning system with ducts will use more energy because the zones’ temperatures change as the air flows through your ductwork. Ductless zoning units offer more enhanced indoor air quality when compared to units with dampers in the duct system. Some pollutants like mold, dirt, pet dander and other air pollutants can also penetrate through dampers and build up in your ductwork, which eventually lowers the air quality in your home. Installing a ductless system can also help you conserve energy because it does not allow air to escape through duct leaks.
You might even notice an improvement in your family members’ general health after installing an HVAC zoned unit. By minimizing the mix of contaminants and allergens in your house, you can significantly boost your control over the air quality you breathe and live in every day. That is a big bonus to everyone, particularly individuals already susceptible to air quality-related health conditions.
When you cool or heat your home with a traditional HVAC unit, some areas might be too stuffy or drafty. Installing a zoning system can help you divert more energy to the areas that need it. Because every zone has its separate thermostat, you will not have to waste energy cooling or heating unused rooms. That’s because zoned air conditioning only targets certain areas without affecting the other zones.
Many homeowners add zoning during home renovations and upgrades to save energy and money. Zoning your air conditioner and heater can allow you to use a smaller HVAC unit, make your system energy-efficient, improve your residence’s air quality, extend your unit’s lifespan, and enhance your home’s comfort.
If you are considering installing a zoning system in your home, you can contact Velox Air, Inc.. Our company has many years of HVAC zoning experience, and we can help you install, repair, and maintain a variety of zoning equipment. We also offer other services including, sheet metal fabrications, ductless mini-split systems, ductwork services, solar installations, indoor air quality and HVAC installations, repair, replacements, and maintenance.
If you reside in the Phoenix Metro Area and are thinking of installing zoning systems in your home, give us a call or schedule an appointment. We would love to talk about how zoned systems can benefit you, the zoning options available, and how we can help you save money.
