It’s next to impossible to satisfy the temperature choice of everyone in the household with only one thermostat. It’s just as hard maintaining consistent temperatures throughout a home with just one thermostat. If fussing over the “right” temperature setting is an ongoing drama in your home, upgrade to a zoning system to enjoy personalized comfort when and where you like, with lower energy bills.
How zoning works
A zoning system utilizes a network of thermostats, with one installed in each zone. Each zone can be one or more rooms or areas in the home. Automatic duct dampers are installed in the duct system to manage the volume of cooled or heated air each zone receives. The thermostat for each zone signals the duct doors in that zone to open or close as needed to maintain the set point temperature.
Factors that contribute to uncomfortable or uneven cooling and heating in a home include the home’s design, heat gain/loss through air leaks and insulation deficiencies, air pressure imbalances and more. These are some situations where a zoning system should prove beneficial in a home:
- Room additions
- Retrofitted rooms (e.g. attic and basement)
- Two or more levels of living space
- Sprawling single-level home
- Areas with expansive windows
- Lofts and vaulted ceilings
- Solariums
- Home offices and media rooms
- Infrequently used rooms or areas
Upgrading and new construction
If you’re upgrading your cooling/heating system or undertaking new construction, this is an ideal time to install a zoning system. Your HVAC professional can use the calculations on heat gain/loss, which likely were performed to size the new cooling/heating system and ductwork, to help configure efficient zoning. This, in turn, will reduce the load placed on the cooling/heating system for greater energy savings, reduced wear and extended life span.
Other factors are considered, too, such as possible home-efficiency upgrades, energy-usage habits, number of occupants, hours the home is occupied and more.
For more information about upgrading to a zoning system, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc.We’re a family-owned company that understands the importance of providing a quality product with impeccable service for our Dayton area customers.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about zoning systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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