One of the main goals of any good HVAC system is to make your house more comfortable. With the right setup, you can relax and enjoy yourself no matter how hot or cold it is outside. Zoning systems are one of the most effective ways of making your home a pleasant place to be. Explore this helpful guide to learn all about how they work and why they’re so useful.
What Is HVAC Zoning?
HVAC zoning refers to any type of system that lets you heat and cool sections of your home independently. When you have a zoned system, you don’t just set a single temperature for your entire house and have a central system run until it reaches that temperature. Instead, you divide your home into zones and control the temperature individually for each section.
There are many different types of zoning systems available for homeowners. If you have a large house, you might set up two or more traditional HVAC units in different parts of the home. Another option is a zoning system that uses dampers throughout your ductwork to adjust airflow. Some homeowners also choose a ductless split system which has individual air handlers in each room connected to a single, large condenser unit outside.
Boost Your Comfort With HVAC Zoning
There are a lot of benefits to HVAC zoning, including energy efficiency and lower utility bills, but one of the big perks is its added comfort. When you install HVAC zoning, it provides these useful features.
Customize Your Temperatures to Your Preferences
If you share your home with anyone else, there will inevitably be times when you can’t agree on temperatures. Tired of freezing because your partner likes chillier temperatures or burning up because your roommate wants to save money on AC? With zoned HVAC systems, you can say goodbye to all these disagreements. Each person can customize the temperature for their bedroom or preferred location, so it’s easy to keep everyone happy. One person can be toasty and warm in their office while another is refreshingly cool in their bedroom.
Overcome Issues With Your Home’s Design
A common problem homeowners face is that certain home designs are harder to heat and cool evenly. If you have an upper story, you might find that it’s always blazing hot in the summer, and if you have any tight corners or strangely shaped rooms, you might have strange cold spots. Meanwhile, rooms with large windows tend to feel a bit warmer than shady hallways or north-facing rooms. Especially in larger houses, there can also be issues with rooms farther away from the central HVAC system taking longer to adjust their temperatures. Zoned HVAC systems help to solve these problems. By providing targeted heating and cooling, you can keep your whole home feel comfortable no matter its shape or size.
Reduce Stress About High Energy Bills
HVAC systems are one of the leading causes of high electric bills, so some homeowners end up trying to save money by adjusting their HVAC systems. However, even if this does save a little money, it often leads to a home where you’re never warm in the winter and never cool in the summer. With zoned HVAC systems, you can address this problem once and for all. This style of HVAC system lets you turn off your system in some parts of the home while only heating or cooling the part of the house you’re currently using. You get peace of mind about a lower electric bill while still enjoying your preferred temperature.
Address Humidity Imbalances
Your HVAC system does more than just keep your house at the right temperature. It also affects your comfort by controlling humidity. As an HVAC system runs, it collects water from the air and drains it outside the home. This can have a major impact on how your house feels. Not only does it keep your air from feeling sticky and damp, but it also prevents mold and mildew growth that can make things smell stale. Zoning systems are a great way of addressing particularly humid parts of the house. You can set your system to run in the bathroom or kitchen to easily remove humidity without making the rest of the house feel oddly cold or hot.
Counteract Heat From Kitchens and Electronics
Have you ever noticed that certain home fixtures make your house feel unpleasantly warm? When you’re running a gaming computer at full power or baking cookies for hours, certain parts of your home can start to feel hot. With a traditional HVAC system, the only solution is to keep running your AC even though it chills the rest of the house. Fortunately, zoned systems provide a more targeted approach to comfort. You can set up your system to remove heat from the warmer parts of the house, so you don’t have to worry about your fixtures making your house feel uncomfortable.
Tips for Using a Zoned HVAC System
A zoned HVAC system can be an excellent way of improving your comfort, but you probably won’t notice a difference if you try to operate it like a central HVAC unit. To get the most out of your zoned HVAC system, you need to take the time to adjust it properly. Here are some steps you can take to get the most comfortable HVAC system possible.
Search for Hot and Cold Spots
When you’re thinking about how to set up your zoning system, pay close attention to the unique issues your house faces. Try walking around and seeing whether certain areas feel oddly hot or cold. Once you identify hot and cold spots, you can fix them by slightly lowering or raising the thermostat for that area.
Include Enough Zones in Your System
To fully enjoy the perks of a zoned system, you need to have enough zones. Some homeowners just choose one zone for half the house and one zone for another. However, it can be a lot more effective if you have a zone for the living room, kitchen, and bedroom area.
Consider a Smart Thermostat System
Smart systems are one of the most convenient options available to modern homeowners. With a set of interconnected smart thermostats, you can easily control your system from your phone or even from voice commands. This lets you take full advantage of adjustable zoning systems.
How to Get Zoning in Your Home
If you want to enjoy all the comfort of HVAC zoning, you have a few options. Some homeowners choose to install a zoning-capable system into their house when they choose a new HVAC unit. If you have a traditional central HVAC system, you can also choose to retrofit it. Retrofitting adds dampers and additional thermostats, so you can use your existing system to get zoned HVAC.
To find the perfect HVAC system for your house, talk to Polar Air & Heating, Inc.. Our experts can assess your home and suggest the right type of zoning for you. In addition to zoned HVAC installations, we also help Las Vegas residents with a variety of other HVAC repairs and maintenance. Contact Polar Air & Heating, Inc. now to get started with heating and air conditioning services.
