Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Why Zoning Your Home's HVAC System Makes Sense

By Debra Reynolds


It's hard to say how much the average household spends on indoor climate control annually, but it's quite a tidy amount. In most cases, this means paying to heat or cool every room within at the same time. If that sounds familiar, chances are that you've wondered if there's a less-wasteful way to go about this. As it turns out, there's a perfect answer for you in the form of HVAC Cape Coral zoning.

A zoned heating and cooling system is one whose ductwork is installed with special airflow control mechanisms (known as dampers). This is done to subdivide the building into segments, each of which has its own programmable thermostat. Also included in the setup is a central control panel to allow for easy management and oversight.

Granted, there's an increase in complexity that comes from adding more components to an AC system. So why exactly should you choose this route when there's a simpler solution in the form of upsizing? Just imagine how wasteful it would be to operate all the lights in your house using one switch. Well, managing your indoor temperature on this principle also contradicts common sense. A more convincing case for zoning becomes evident when you take a look at its benefits:

Major Energy Savings: Zoning will unlock the ability to focus cool/warm air to the area(s) where you need it most. This will be followed by a significant reduction in the equipment's workload, plus the amount of energy it consumes. Cost benefits aside, you can't afford to ignore the potential to boost your contribution towards sustainability.

Convenience: Being able to adjust temperature at a room level sounds like a great idea on paper, but how practical is it? As it so happens, remote controls typically come as standard features of zoned systems. There's also the possibility of connecting yours to your smartphone. Either way, not much effort will be required on your part.

Quality and Consistency: Zoning will eliminate the problem of air getting circulated around your home several times. This will in turn minimize the spread of contaminants within the space. You'll also be able to avoid instances of certain parts of your home being warmer or cooler than other areas.

While there's no universal formula for zoning a heating and AC system, it's worth stressing that this is a process that involves many variables. The benefits are contingent upon proper configuration, installation and testing of all the components. The first is particularly crucial -- this ensures that the design matches the size and layout of the space. Also keep in mind that failure to achieve the desired performance is rarely an equipment issue. Rather, it's typically related to a lack of design and installation expertise.

Truth be told, zoning a heating and cooling setup is quite the hefty investment. This is however balanced by its effectiveness in practice -- no alternative offers a similar improvement in performance without compromising comfort. So don't think too much about its cost, but rather the savings you stand to reap in the long term. That aside, involving a professional in the planning process will be a smart move on your part.




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