What is HVAC zoning?
HVAC zoning breaks your home into zoned areas that can be heated or cooled to different specifications. A zone can be a cluster of several rooms or a single room.
In a traditional central HVAC system, you set the temperature for your entire home on a single thermostat. Your system turns on and off based on the temperature sensors in the thermostat.
But sometimes, temperatures vary across your home. Maybe the rooms in the front of your house are usually hotter because they get more sunlight during the day. Or perhaps your bedroom is always cold in the winter because it’s the farthest room from your furnace or heating system.
HVAC zoning allows you to heat or cool each zone in your home differently, depending on that zone’s unique needs. Zoning involves using multiple central HVAC systems, mini splits, or a smart thermostat with room sensors and duct dampers.
Pros
Most obviously, zoned HVAC keeps each area of your home comfortable. If your kitchen can’t stay cool in the summer, you don’t have to freeze the rest of the house. You can set a zone for that room alone and adjust the thermostat accordingly.
This, in turn, helps you reduce electricity consumption. By heating and cooling each zone individually, you won’t waste energy. Additionally, if you don’t frequent certain areas of your home, you don’t have to heat or cool them when they’re not in use.
A subsequent benefit is that your utility bills will be lower. No more wasting energy on heating and cooling your whole home at once. With zones, you only use what you need.
Cons
If you’re starting from scratch with a new build or a completely re-vamped HVAC system, it’s worth it to create zones. However, turning a traditional central HVAC system into a zoned one can be costly.
In addition, zoned HVAC is not suitable for certain homes. If you have a smaller house and don’t experience any especially hot or cold spots, installing a zoned system may not be worth the hassle.
Different Types of Zoned HVAC
Multiple Systems
If you have a multi-story home, you may already have a rudimentary zoned system. Homes with more than one story often use two AC condensers for cooling.
Since heat rises, it’s notably warmer upstairs in some houses. Homes with two ACs, each controlled by a dedicated thermostat, can stay more consistently cool.
In this example, the upstairs AC works harder, while the downstairs AC has an easier job. In the long run, you’ll save electricity and likely preserve the life of your HVAC system since it’s not constantly working to keep up with the high temperatures upstairs.
You don’t need a multi-story home to benefit from dual HVAC systems. If you have a large one-story house, you may be able to zone your system this way. It can be especially useful if one wing of your home includes bedrooms that are uninhabited during the day.
Mini Splits or Ductless Systems
Mini splits, enable whole-home heating and cooling without ductwork.
Each mini split comprises an outdoor heat pump and an indoor air handler connected by electrical wiring and refrigerant lines. In a zoned system, you can have multiple air handlers throughout your home, which you can adjust individually.
Instead of using a central thermostat, a mini split’s air handler typically has a remote control. You can turn it on and off, choose the temperature, and select the fan speed. Or you can set it up to run automatically on a schedule.
Mini splits are perfect for older homes that don’t have existing ductwork. They’re also great if you have specific areas of your home that tend to stay hotter or cooler than the rest.
For example, if your central AC just can’t keep a particularly sunny bedroom cool, you can install a mini split. This will create a new zone that offers supplemental cooling.
Central HVAC Zones
Zoning your existing central HVAC system is possible, however, it’s much easier if you’re starting from scratch with a new home build or a completely refreshed HVAC system.
Your equipment needs to be dual-stage or modulating to zone your existing system. You’ll need to purchase a new AC condenser and furnace/heat pump if you have single-stage equipment.
Additionally, your ductwork needs to be sized and connected properly for the system. If it’s not, it may require some updating.
A smart thermostat with sensors will be installed in a zoned central HVAC system. Dampers will also be added to your ductwork. These dampers open and close to direct air where it’s needed.
How Many Zones Can I Have?
Typically, a standard HVAC system can have as many as four zones. Mini-split systems can have up to eight zones. Zones are controlled by a zone board and air temperature sensors open and close dampers to allow conditioned air into the zones.
Can I DIY a Zoned HVAC System?
Installing a zoned HVAC system is not a DIY job.
If you want a more budget friendly option, a smart thermostat with room sensors is recommended.
While not a true zoned system, a smart thermostat with sensors will help your home stay more consistently comfortable in each area with a sensor. |
