When you own a home, you may find that some rooms are hotter or colder than others. You may have a quality heating and cooling system but are lacking multi-zone options. With zoned areas of your home, you can control individual spaces, allowing you to control the comfort level in every area of your home.
This is a great way for home owners to save energy as well as spend less on heating and cooling in the home. Below are a few DIY basics of multi-zone HVAC so you can get to know exactly what you can do in the home for better comfort.
There are many factors to consider when looking at zoned comfort. If you have a multi-level home, you will experience heat rising, which means the lower level of the home will be much cooler. When you need custom comfort on every level, system zoning will provide you with what you need to get started. An HVAC technician can easily help you get started or you can begin the process yourself, if knowledgeable of HVAC techniques and components.
System Zoning
With this option, you will have multiple thermostats installed in the home. Each thermostat will be wired to a control panel. This panel will operate the dampers in the ductwork of your unit. This option works with a forced-air system. The thermostats will read the temperature of the associated zone and then open or close the associated damper to provide the selected temperature in the given area.
This method of heating and cooling is helpful for homes with inconsistent heating and cooling temperatures. You can control specific areas, allowing you to be comfortable no matter where you are without using too much energy in the home. This option is also beneficial to those who live in large homes and like to have bedrooms or living areas at varying temperatures.
Using Properly Can Save You Money
The United States Department of Energy has reported that with system zoning, home owners have the potential to save as much as 30 percent on the typical utility bill when it comes to heating and cooling. This can be quite the savings as the bulk of utility costs come from HVAC systems. Consider this. Your home has many rooms, many of which go unused. Do they really need to be as warm or cool as other areas of the home, which are used on a daily basis? Guest rooms, basements and other areas that are seldom used can have their own temperature setting, allowing you to use less energy and still have a comfortable home.
Installation
The cost of installation for dampers and the programmable thermostats can be high but the savings are immediate. You will be able to save money from the very next utility bill. You will see that with the installation, you can save money in the long run, allowing the benefits to outweigh the initial cost. Dampers can be retrofitted to see savings with installation and this can be a nice decrease in price for this type of installation.
To learn more about multi-zoned comfort, speak with an HVAC professional. You will be able to have your property accessed and determine how many zones you need and what will be required with the installation. Once you have learned more about the option, you will be able to make an informed decision as to if this service will be of benefit to your home. Contact your local HVAC provider today to learn more. You will surprised at how this option can completely change the way you enjoy home comfort.