What Are The Advantages Of Zoned HVAC?

Zoned HVAC systems offer several major benefits, especially in multi-story homes, larger homes, or houses with additions, finished basements, or bonus rooms. In homes like these, there are usually rooms or spaces that aren’t being used much of the time, and with a traditional HVAC system, they are still treated the same as the rest of the house. That’s a waste of energy. 

Here are some of the biggest advantages to zoning your heating and cooling: :

• Personalized comfort from zone to zone
• Reduces energy waste not treating unused rooms 
• Extends system lifespan due to not overusing the units

Let’s break down the most important benefits.

Energy Efficiency

One of the biggest advantages of zoned HVAC is improved energy efficiency.

With a traditional system, your furnace or heat pump runs to satisfy a single thermostat, often located in the middle of the home, a living room normally. That means it heats or cools the entire home, even if you’re only using part of it. Bedrooms, basements, and any other unused room is consuming energy by being unnecessarily heated or cooled. 

With zoning:

• You only heat or cool the areas you’re using.
• Unoccupied rooms can be set back.
• Your system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain comfort.

In Southwest Virginia, where we run our heating and air conditioning systems for a good portion of the year, this can make a big difference in monthly energy bills. Imagine you are using 30% less energy over the course of the year. In theory, you will be spending 30% less than you would have on energy bills with a traditional HVAC system. 

Another benefit is a longer system lifespan because you aren’t running it constantly, even when it isn’t needed. This leads to less wear and tear, and a longer lifespan! 

Personalized Comfort

One of the never ending battles in lots of homes is the fight over the thermostat. One person likes it at 68 degrees when another wants it at 72. Some people like it cold at night while others like it warm. 

Zoned HVAC allows each area of your home to be customized to your preference. 

Instead of constant thermostat battles, everyone can be comfortable in their own space. One person can have their bedroom set at 73 for a toasty warm environment, while another can sit in the living room at 67 degrees and stay nice and cool. Then the unused office room can stay off since no one is using it, saving energy. 

This is helpful in homes with large ceilings, lots of windows, and specifically rooms with different heating and cooling capabilities. Some rooms may NEED to be treated differently than others simply because of design. 

If you want more control over your home comfort while saving energy at the same time, zoned HVAC may be what you are looking for. 

How Can I Zone My Heating And Cooling?

There are several ways to zone your home, depending on your current setup and goals. You can install a completely new system, or you can adjust your current HVAC system if applicable. 

1. Install a Zoned Duct System

If you have a central heating and cooling system with ductwork, zoning can be added using:

• Multiple thermostats
  
• Motorized dampers installed in the ductwork
  
• A zoning control panel
  

The dampers open and close based on thermostat signals, directing airflow only where it’s needed. Think of it as a valve system in your ductwork that allows you to adjust the amount of heating and cooling you want to bring to certain spots of the home. 

This option works well for homes that already have ductwork and want better control without installing separate systems.