The HVAC industry expects zoning to become an integral aspect of heating and cooling design in the years ahead. A traditional HVAC system has a single zone, such as your entire home. This approach is inherently inefficient because you usually don’t need your entire home heated or cooled to the same level. A zoned HVAC system has discrete zones that you can adjust independently. This has a wide range of energy-efficiency implications.

Reduced Heating and Cooling Bills

The average home size in the U.S. is about 2,300 square feet. That’s a lot of space to cool during the summer and heat during the winter. The other consideration is that you only use a fraction of that space at any given time. The number may be as low as 5% for the average household. With zone control, you don’t have to spend unnecessarily heating and cooling areas you’re not using. The Department of Energy estimates that zoning can reduce household energy usage by 30% or more.

Personalized Comfort

Zone control also makes a home more comfortable. You likely prefer a different temperature in your kitchen and bathrooms than you do in your living room and home theater. Household members likely have different preferences as well. You may prefer a cool temperature for sleep, but children may favor or even need a cozier setting. Through smart thermostat technologies, many systems even allow for individualized and prioritized profiles.

Viable for All Ducted HVAC Technologies

HVAC zoning is suitable for all ducted heating and cooling technologies. Ductless mini-splits are inherently zoned systems. You can also mix and match ductless and central systems. Mini-splits in the bedrooms, for instance, are an affordable way to add zoning to an existing central system. For a fully zoned central HVAC system, you can opt for the traditional furnace and air conditioner pairing. Many homeowners opt for hybrid heating instead. These configurations pair a heat pump with a furnace. The heat pump provides cooling like an AC, and it delivers more affordable heating than a furnace most of the time. When it gets too cold for the heat pump installation to be efficient, the system switches over to the furnace.

Less Air Leakage

The DOE estimates the average home loses between 20% and 40% of its conditioned air through its ducts. This is due to air leakage caused by worn seals, punctures in the duct walls, and other issues. Leakage impacts energy efficiency, comfort, and air quality. Generally, this is much less of a problem with zoned systems. Many homeowners never have their ducts inspected. With a zoned system, your ducts require annual service. It’s necessary to evaluate and balance them. During that process, a technician will identify any leakage and recommend solutions.

Smaller Household Carbon Footprint

The average carbon footprint in the U.S. is 16 tons per person, which is among the highest in the world. Air conditioning is the leading contributor to the average household’s carbon footprint. Home heating is a significant contributor as well. By lowering your energy usage by 30% or more through zoning, you’re having a positive effect on the environment.

Less HVAC Cycling

Zoned HVAC systems don’t have to cycle as often or for as long. That’s because they don’t have to provide as much conditioned air as a traditional system. Less cycling results in less wear and tear on the equipment. That can extend the life of a system and make it less prone to repairs.

Advanced Thermostat Control

A zoned system will typically have multiple thermostats throughout the home. It’s usual to have a thermostat for each individual zone. Those thermostats will give you access to their zones and the wider system as well. Many of these systems also have Wi-Fi and an app. That lets you monitor and control the system from the couch or your desk at work.

Scheduling

Another advantage of smart zone thermostats is scheduling. This is where you program the thermostat to adjust the temperature and other settings automatically. You can, for instance, turn the heat down while you’re at work or asleep. The DOE estimates that the average household can save 10% on heating and cooling annually through this approach.

Occupancy-Based Ventilation

Zoned HVAC systems require multiple remote sensors throughout a home. This makes it easy to integrate occupancy sensors into the home and augment scheduling. The thermostat can use a different schedule depending on whether there are people in a zone or even the entire home.

Other Smart Features

You can integrate your smart zone HVAC system into your home automation system. A system can coordinate with smart refrigerators, shades, ceiling fans, and so forth. There are also many other smart thermostat features that can help you save even more. Consider energy monitoring and reporting. It can indicate which zones in your home are inefficient and why.

No Hot or Cold Spots

Cold and hot spots are a common problem in traditional HVAC systems. That’s because of the central thermostat location and the system having no way to adjust airflow to the problem area. This isn’t the case with a zoned system. Each zone has its own sensors and gets the airflow it needs.

Precise Humidity Control

If you opt for humidity equipment, zoning allows for much finer control. A dehumidifier will help you keep the air drier in the summer. A humidifier will help you keep it less dry in the winter. Dehumidifiers also help air conditioners and heat pumps in cooling mode to be more efficient.

Multi-Stage or Variable-Speed Air Handler

An integral component of a zoned system is a multi-stage or variable-speed blower. In order to adjust airflow through the system, the blower must be able to ramp up and down. This also leads to better efficiency. In a traditional system, the blower is either on or off, and runs at the same constant speed when on. With zoning, the blower will draw a lot less power on average.

Better Indoor Air Quality

Zoned systems are better for air quality too. Each zone is self-contained, and there’s no cross-contamination of dust, other particles, gases, and chemicals. Zoning makes in-duct air purifiers and germicidal lamps more effective. Some systems can even increase airflow based on occupancy to reduce CO2 levels and the concentration of other pollutants.

Zone Control Installation in the Greater Houston Area

If you’d like to upgrade your home or business with HVAC zone control, Mackey Services is the company to choose. Our team has served Dickinson, TX and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. We install, maintain, and repair furnaces, heat pumps, hybrid heating systems, air conditioners, ductless mini-splits, and rooftop units. Our technicians install and service smart thermostats, air purifiers, germicidal lights, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers. Our licensed electricians are available for inspections, installations, and repairs. We specialize in electrical panels, surge protection, EV charging stations, standby generators, and outdoor and indoor lighting, including ceiling fans. Our company also has a landscaping team for residential and commercial property management, irrigation, seasonal enhancement, and much more.

Call today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or in-person consultation.

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