When it comes to keeping a happy home or business, one of your main priorities is likely providing a comfortable place for everyone to work, play, relax, and sleep. This goal means making sure your HVAC system is able to keep all of the areas that people frequently use comfortable. At the same time, you also want to help save your hard-earned money. If this situation seems familiar, an HVAC zoning system could be the perfect solution for you.
How HVAC Zoning Systems Work
HVAC zoning systems are fairly simple to install and use.
Break Your Home or Building Into Zones
Whether you are a home or a business owner, you may have certain parts of your house or business building that you don’t use regularly or different parts that you use at different times of the day. With an HVAC Zoning system, you can divide your home into zones and send conditioned air exactly where you want it to go. Then you only need to worry about heating or cooling a specific area rather than the entire home or building. This can help you save on utility bills.
Contact B&L Ott to talk to a comfort specialist. They can visit your home for a consultation so that you can zone your home in the most productive way. They can help you determine how many zones you may need and where the zones should be.
System Components
The main components of an HVAC zoning system are dampers. Dampers are installed within your air ducts and can open and close to either allow air to pass through or block the air from entering a certain area. If you have multiple dampers in the same zone, they can be programmed to open and close together.
Each zone gets its own thermostat so that you can control the airflow and temperature in each zone individually. You also typically get a central control panel that can control all of the zones.
Communication
Types of HVAC Zoning
There are three main ways you can zone your home.
Manual Dampers – The most budget-friendly option is to install manual dampers. However, someone will need to adjust the dampers individually when you want to change the airflow. You may also have to experiment a bit to figure out how to optimize the airflow in your home. For instance, you may want to send cool air upstairs in the summer and send warm air downstairs in the winter since cool air sinks and hot air rises.
Automatic Dampers – Automatic dampers are a mid-level cost and are very convenient. They work as described in the communication section above. The thermostats and central control panel work together to direct the air where you want it to go. You can also program dampers to work in groups so that you don’t need to adjust each damper individually.
Ductless Mini-Splits – You can also zone your Berks County home or business by using ductless mini-split HVAC systems. If you have a large home and need many mini-split systems, this option can be initially costly. However, ductless mini-splits are efficient and can pay for themselves over time. This is a good option for homes that don’t already have ducts where dampers can be installed.
Advantages of HVAC Zoning Systems
There are multiple ways that installing an HVAC zoning system can benefit your home or business.
Increased Energy Efficiency
HVAC zoning makes your entire system more efficient because you can focus on making just one area comfortable at a time rather than heating or cooling an entire house or building. Your HVAC system will not have to run quite as long each cycle which can also lessen the wear and tear on your unit.
Better Climate Control
Not everyone in your household or company likes the same temperature settings. Some prefer warmth while others prefer more of a chill in the air. This may lead to discrepancies about where to set the thermostat. An HVAC zoning system can help solve these discrepancies with better climate control.
You can set up two different zones so that each person can enjoy their desired settings. For instance, if one person likes it cold and likes to hang out in the living room, you can make that a zone and keep it cool. Meanwhile, if another person likes it warm and hangs out in their upstairs bedroom, you can also make that a zone and keep it warmer. If you have a baby or elder in your home, this can be a very useful solution.
Reduced Costs
When you focus on certain zones rather than your entire home, you won’t have to use as much energy. This will help reduce your utility bills. As mentioned before, it may also reduce the need for repairs down the line as there is less wear and tear. This will save you on the costs of repairs. Additionally, it may also help your unit last longer which will save you even more.
Increased Comfort
HVAC zoning systems provide you with more control over your environment and help solve a variety of comfort issues you may have. For instance, if you have uneven heating in your home, it can help supplement certain areas. If one room in your home receives a lot of sunlight, it may be warmer than the rest of your home. By using an HVAC zoning system, you can cool off hot areas of your home without having to make the rest of your home too cold.
Factors to Consider When Installing an HVAC Zoning System
When deciding to install an HVAC zoning system, there are multiple aspects you will want to plan out and consider before you move forward with the installation.
Size, Layout, and Number of Zones
One of the first things you will want to consider is the size of your home and the layout of the building. If you have a small home, you may only need two or three zomes. Maybe you want to divide your home into the lower level and the upper level. This way you can send the air downstairs during the day while you are hanging out in the living room and kitchen; then at night you can send the air upstairs so that you can sleep comfortably. You can also send the air to different levels depending on the season.
On the other hand, if you have a large home or building, you may want to have more zones to work with. You may want to separate your zones into different rooms, sides of the building, and levels. The best way to optimize the layout of your system is to talk to a B&L Ott comfort specialist. They can visit your home or building and talk to you about your needs to help you determine the best layout for your system.
Compatibility with Existing HVAC System
Another aspect you will want to consider is the HVAC system you currently have. This can affect the type of HVAC zoning system you will want to get. If you have a central air system with air ducts running throughout your entire home, you will likely want to choose one of the systems that add dampers to your air ducts rather than using ductless mini-split systems.
If you don’t have an HVAC system that uses ducts, then using ductless mini-split systems may be your best option. Ductless mini-split systems are also useful if you have a single area that is not connected to your central air HVAC system. They are also good if you have one particular room that is just too hot or too cold because it receives too much sun or is in a finished basement. Once again, if you need any help planning which HVAC zoning system to use, a B&L Ott comfort specialist would be happy to assist you.
Budget
With any home project, it is always a good idea to plan out a budget before you start any work. Having a set budget can also help a B&L Ott technician help you determine what HVAC zoning system will work best for your situation. You may also want to visit our financing page for payment options.
Professional Installation
It can be tempting to try and install an HVAC zoning system on your own to save some cash. Yet, if something is not installed properly, you can end up with issues that may cost you to fix anyway. The easiest and most reliable way to make sure your HVAC zoning system is optimized is to call on a professional HVAC contractor like B&L Ott. We have installed many HVAC zoning systems before and know how to ensure your unit gets set up properly.
Let B&L OTT Install an HVAC Zoning System for You Today!
HVAC zoning systems provide you with more access and power over your HVAC system and the comfort of your home. They are convenient to use and can help you save on your energy bills. If you are ready to start the process of customizing and installing an HVAC zoning system, call on the professionals at B&L Ott today! You can contact us through our website or by calling 610-927-5133.
With a priority on customer satisfaction, we can help you find the best solution for your home and family. Our goal is to keep you and your family or company comfortable all year round.
