Depending on the HVAC system you have in your home, it is usually possible to add zones to the system. Zoning provides the type of heating and cooling control that you may need for each room independently. Also, if you are tired of hot and cold spots in your home, zoning may help even out the climate throughout your home.
How Do You Add Zones to Your Current System?
To add zones to your current HVAC system, there are many steps that require a professional to assess your current system and determine if it is possible to add zoning. If it is possible, we will let you know if your system needs any work or repairs before we add zones.
Then, there is a capacity analysis of your home’s HVAC system and the ductwork, along with the layout of your home. This shows the existing infrastructure and its potential for zones. Not all systems provide the capacity needed to accommodate zoning, so it is vital to do a full assessment so that problems don’t arise.
Zoning Plan Design
Once we’ve checked to make sure your home’s HVAC system has the capacity for zoning, we will design the zones. At this stage, we look at each space in your home and the specific ways that you use each room. Then, we check the sun exposure and temperature variations to know more about the potential usage for that space. For example, living rooms or kitchens are high-usage areas that will want finer temperature control than less-used spaces such as guest rooms or basements.
Essentially, we separate the areas of your home that have similar heating and cooling requirements into separately controlled areas, or zones. In general, a single HVAC unit may split into as many as eight zones depending on the ductwork involved and the capacity.
Dampers and Thermostats Installation
After the design, the installation work follows. This involves installing motorized dampers within the current ductwork. Those dampers control the amount of airflow by opening and closing according to the temperature settings programmed for each zone. Each zone has its own thermostat that allows you to control the temperature for just one area.
Thermostats communicate with the dampers through a main control panel. The control panel synchronizes the motion of the dampers with the system and directs the proper amount of heated or cooled air to each zone.
Wiring and Integrating the Control Panel
The control panel is the brain of the zoning system as it ties or links the thermostats and dampers to the principal HVAC unit. The wiring needs precise attention so that the system works smoothly and delivers proper amounts of heated or cooled air to each zone.
There is also the opportunity to integrate the smart control panel with home automation systems. If you have a smart thermostat or a home automation system installed, this zoning panel often integrates with it, which brings greater control over the operations and is more convenient. Control the temperature of each zone independently from an application on your smartphone.
Testing and Adjusting
Testing the system after installation allows a technician to be sure that the system works well. This testing helps us know if we need to make adjustments with the dampers or control panel. We test the thermostats as well as monitor the temperature readings to make sure that the air cools and heats each zone properly. These steps help ensure that there are no irregularities or uneven airflow, which results in overheating or overcooling areas.
What Are the Possible Issues or Considerations When Adding Zones?
While there are a lot of advantages to adding zones to your existing HVAC system, here are some complications that can arise and aspects bound to have an impact on the success of adding zones to your home.
Compatibility and System Capacity
Your home’s current HVAC system needs to be compatible. Zoning puts more of a load on your system, so your home’s HVAC unit must handle this load well. Your home’s heating and cooling system may be an older one or sized just large enough to serve only one zone, so it might lack the necessary capacity to cope with the additional workload brought upon by zoning. In this instance, it is essential to upgrade your home’s HVAC system.
Modifying the Ductwork
The ductwork in your home may need modifications if it is old or in poor condition. These modifications may include sealing leaks, adding bypass ducts, or resizing to make sure that each zone gets the right amount of air.
If there is a bad design of the ductwork, it is possible to have leaks or inefficiencies, and some zones may receive either too much or too little air. These problems need attention before the installation of zones, to prevent problems.
Cost Considerations
The long-term energy savings on heating and cooling bills are a consideration for adding zoning to your current HVAC system, but it is also important to consider the large up-front costs of adding zoning. The installation cost consists of the complexity of the ductwork, the number of zones, and the upgrades or repairs needed. In most cases, it pays back through energy efficiency, increased comfort, and a potential increase in the value of your home.
Difficulty in Installation
Compared to a regular installation, adding zones to an existing HVAC system is much more complicated. This requires very accurate calibration and a deep understanding of how airflow works through your home. Inefficiency and discomfort may happen if there isn’t precise installation.
Maintenance Requirements
Periodic maintenance for a zoned HVAC system may be more frequent than a traditional setup. All the added components, the dampers, thermostats, and control panel, require periodic inspection and servicing to ensure that they continue to work correctly.
These can include stuck dampers, which prevent proper airflow to particular zones. Malfunctioning thermostats can also cause erratic temperature control. Schedule routine maintenance visits with Mackey Services to keep your zoning system running properly and to extend the life of your equipment.
Temporary Disruption During Installation
Consider how installation may affect the disruption in your life. Depending on the complexity of your system and the number of zones you are adding, installation could take several days. During that time, parts of your home may be without heating or cooling, and this could cause temporary discomfort. You may want to schedule everything around some time off work or during a holiday so that you don’t have to worry about keeping up with day-to-day life during the installation.
Impact on System Longevity
Another potential issue is that installing zones may have a negative impact on the life expectancy of the entire system. Zoning may stress an HVAC unit a little harder because it may cycle on and off more often to achieve the desired temperature in different zones. Cycling wears out critical parts such as compressors, fans, and motors more rapidly, thus shortening equipment life.
At Mackey Services in Dickinson, Texas, we provide heating repair, installation, and heating maintenance services for homes in the area. Our friendly team also provides smart thermostats, indoor air quality, and mini-split services. Contact Mackey Services for more information today!
