A Zoned Heating and Cooling System Just What You Need?

Many homeowners complain that one room in their house is much cooler or hotter than other rooms. There are many reasons for uneven heating, but one cure for many homes is a zoned heating and cooling system. Let’s address the way it works and decide if it’s right for you.

The basics: What is zoning?

Put simply, zoning is when you break up your home into different cooling or heating zones. For example, if you have a room upstairs that’s always much warmer than a room downstairs – which is very common due to the way heat rises – you could install one thermostat upstairs and one downstairs. You’d then control each zone separately.

How does zoning work?

Think of it like this: you don’t have one light switch that controls every outlet in your house. In the same way, when you invest in a zoned cooling and heating system you have more than one thermostat. You can choose to set both thermostats to the same temperature, but once one area reaches the temperature you’ve set it will shut off, while the other will continue to work until it’s reached the temperature you’ve set.

Is a zoned system right for you?

Homes have uneven temperatures for numerous reasons, but even in the best sealed single systems there are likely to be hot and cold spots. If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions then you may be a good candidate for a zoned system .

• Is your home more than one level? Heat rises, and with just a single thermostat your upper levels will be warmer than your lower levels.
• Do you have vaulted ceilings? They generally mean you’ll have less attic insulation.
• Do you have rooms with large glass areas? Whether windows or doors, if you have one or more rooms with many glass areas then you’re likely allowing temperature-controlled air to escape.
• Are some members of your household comfortable at different temperatures? With several zones you have control over individual rooms.
• Do you have a ranch-style house with a wing that extends off your main living area? In this case, there’s a long journey for heated or cooled air to travel through your ducts. This causes your system work harder, and leaves the center of your house at the right temperature while your wing or wings are warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter.

Are you still not sure what the right system is? AC-World is here to help! Let us outfit you with the perfect ductless heating and / or cooling system for your needs.