What Are Zoned Heating HVAC Systems?

When you’re home you want to be comfortable, and part of that comfort comes with having the right temperature. If your entire home is the same temperature you may find that you’re cold in some rooms at your home and too warm in others. There’s nothing comfortable about that! An HVAC zoning system can help fix that problem.

We’re going to take a closer look at a zoned heating and why you may want to invest in a zoned system. We’ll also look at the benefits of zoned heating and how Bowman Mechanical Services can help with all of your zoned HVAC system needs.

What does zone heating mean?

When you hear people talk about zone heating, they’re talking about a heating and cooling system that divides your home into individual zones that are each controlled by their own thermostat rather than a central thermostat.

People often choose to create multiple zones in their homes because it eliminates hot and cold spots in their home. Through a supply vent, each room gets the right amount of warm air.

How does heat zoning work?

HVAC zoning is all about the electronically controlled dampers in your ductwork and your thermostats. Think of dampers like valves that control the airflow of your heated air throughout your home.

While the dampers control the airflow, the thermostats tell the dampers when to open up and let more air through and when not to. Once the room has reached its desired temperature, the thermostat tells the dampers in that room to take a break and not deliver more air.

Zoned Heating System vs. Central Heating: What’s The Difference?

When you’re talking about central heating and zoning systems for your heat, the main difference is how each system delivers air. With both zoned heating and central heating furnaces, warm air travels through ducts and is delivered to each of your rooms. Each room has a vent where warm air leaves the ducts and enters the room.

With central heating, each room gets the same amount of air when the furnace is running. You can always close the vent if you don’t want the room to receive as much warm air, but the same amount of hot air will be going through the ducts to each room.

Zoned heating uses electronic dampers to control each vent. While your furnace still sends warm air through the ducts, the zoning system controls which vents will blow air and which ones won’t. If a zone requires heat, the zoning system will open the dampers to the room so warm air can come in. But, if the zone doesn’t want to receive warm air, the dampers will remain closed.

Another difference between a zoned system and central heating is how many thermostats you have in your home. Central heating only uses one. Your entire home will receive warm air when the furnace is on and the entire home won’t get warm air through the supply vents when the furnace is off. It’s an all-or-nothing deal.

When your home’s HVAC system has zones, there are different thermostats strategically placed around the home. You can decide which thermostat will turn on the heat in each zone. This makes each room of the house perfectly comfortable. You may want your living room to be warm, but your master bedroom to be a few degrees cooler when you sleep. With zone control, you can make this happen.

Is zoned heating more efficient?

Absolutely! Think about it. Without zones, rooms in your home that don’t need a lot of heat are still getting it. Rooms with large windows that get a lot of sunlight often don’t require much heat. This means you’re paying to heat rooms that don’t need it. Dampers provide a better seal than simply closing air vents in rooms that don’t need to be heated as much.

A multi-zone system allows you to use less energy than your home uses and saves you money. How much? The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that HVAC system zoning can save homeowners up to 30% on their heating bills.

If you have areas in your home where you don’t spend much time, sealing them off and choosing to send the warm air to the living space that needs it makes sense. This way each room is comfortable and you can the energy savings in your bill each month.

What are the benefits of zoned heating?

Besides better energy efficiency, there are several benefits to HVAC zoning in your home.

More even temperature distribution

When the temperature in each room is controlled separately there is a more even temperature distribution. We all know that heat rises, so the upstairs rooms are always warmer than the lower ones in a two-story home.

When at least two zones are installed, one on the main floor, and one upstairs, you can customize temperatures. This eliminates cold spots and hot spots and makes individual spaces more comfortable.

Different family members can choose their comfort levels

Do you have that one family member who’s always cold? With an HVAC zoning system, that person brings more warm air into the areas of the house where they spend more time. Central furnaces won’t allow you to do this.

Extend the Life of Your Unit

When you reduce the amount of heat your HVAC system produces, you are extending its life span. While buying a new furnace sooner than you should? Zone heating decreases the wear and tear on your furnace because it’s not working as hard. This saves you money down the road.

How many heating zones should I have?

How many zones you have is a personal preference. Basic systems have two zones that are typically located upstairs and downstairs. But you may require more zones to suit your needs. You can talk to your HVAC contractor to determine the best areas to strategically place your zones to get the most for your money.

How do I add a zone to my home heating and cooling system?

Installing dampers into existing ductwork is the most common way to add zones to your system. But, the static pressure may be too intense for the existing ductwork that is linked with just one zone. In these cases, your HVAC contractor can advise you about the best way to add a zone and redirect the excess air.

Contact Bowman Mechanical Services For All Of Your Zoned HVAC System Needs

If you’re tired of hot and cold spots in your home, it may be time to look at a zoned heating system. At Bowman Mechanical Services, we can take care of all your zoned HVAC system needs. Whether you want to install a new system or add zones, we can get the job done.

Bowman Mechanical Services offers excellent service to customers in Garner and surrounding areas at affordable prices. To learn more, call us at  919-772-2759 or request a free quote online!