Traditional ducted HVAC systems are a great way to provide heating and cooling, but it’s not perfect. It’s not unusual for homeowners to deal with issues such as inconsistent temperatures, conditioned air being wasted on unoccupied spaces, and high utility bills. Fortunately, there is a solution. Read on as Pelican Heating and Air discusses the concept of HVAC zoning, and whether it’s right for your home.
Standard ducted HVAC systems use an air handler to force airflow into air ducts and distribute air inside a building. Since the settings are centralized and controlled by a single thermostat, every room in the building does not have control over the air that they receive. This means that rooms that are located further along the duct line tend to receive less conditioned air, particularly if the ductwork has leaks or is poorly insulated.
HVAC zoning solves this problem by splitting areas into zones and installing dampers for each. The dampers allow control for how much conditioned air each zone receives. For example, one zone can be designated for common areas like the living room and kitchen, where HVAC output can be reduced or turned off when not occupied at night. The bedrooms can be designated as another zone, where HVAC output can be lowered when they’re unoccupied during school or work hours. You can have more granular settings by installing dampers for every room, equipped with their own thermostat.
Zoned HVAC systems offer benefits like consistent heating and cooling, as well as allowing the occupant of each room to set the temperature to their liking. This type of system should be considered if you have members of the household that have specific needs, like in the case of a senior family member, a toddler or a recovering patient. The accurate control also means more efficient use of the HVAC system, which can contribute to energy savings.
Every home has a unique set of requirements, so a zoned system may or may not be the best for you. In some homes, issues with efficiency can be addressed by fixing insulation issues and leaks in the ductwork, or maybe upgrading to a better heating and air conditioning system. In others, individual ductless mini-splits may be a better solution. To best determine whether zoning will work with your home, have your HVAC system inspected by an HVAC professional.
Get in touch with our team at Pelican Heating and Air by giving us a call at (442) 287-3084. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.
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