How HVAC Zoning Provides Energy Savings

You’ve likely heard about zoned HVAC systems and wondered what they are and how they might benefit your household. These systems are gaining popularity for good reason: they offer a smart way to control the temperature in your home, which will lead to significant energy savings. Here, our AC and heating installation experts will examine how HVAC zoning works and how it can make your home more comfortable and efficient.

How Do HVAC Zones Work?

In a nutshell, HVAC zones work by directing conditioned air to specific areas of your home instead of the entire structure at once. There are a few ways to do this, but in general, each zone has its own thermostat. You also usually have a panel to control the system as a whole.

Dividing Your Home Into Zones

First, it’s vital to choose areas in your home that should be controlled by the same thermostat. For instance, a distinct zone could be specific rooms, an entire floor or even one specific area of your home. Professionals can take into account your home’s layout, which areas are used most, and the overall cooling and heating load to determine the best zoning setup for you.

Zone Dampers

To zone a central HVAC system, technicians install plates called dampers in your ductwork. When a specific zone becomes too hot or too cold, it causes the associated dampers to close or open. As an example, think about the fact that heat rises. In a two-story home, you can easily have a first floor that’s comfortably cool while the second level is sweat-inducing. Depending on the thermostat placement, single-zone systems would sense how warm the second floor is and cool the entire home as if that’s the overall temperature. In a zoned system, you can adjust the dampers so your system only expends energy cooling the warmer area instead of sending cold air everywhere.

You can also zone your system by installing ductless mini-splits. Typically, you wouldn’t convert an entire central system into a ductless one, though, so this is ideal for older homes without ductwork, for new builds, or for home additions.

Individual Thermostats

Each zone can be set and managed by its individual thermostat. In other words, you’ll have independent control over the temperature setting.

Let’s say that one room is kept at 70 degrees, while your first floor is set to 68 degrees. Although a two-degree differential may not seem like much, it can make a big difference on a cold or hot Milford day. By setting each thermostat individually, you can take more control over your energy usage.

Temperature Control

HVAC zoning controls the temperature in each zone by using the dampers in your ductwork. As previously mentioned, each time a specific zone needs more heat or less AC or heat, the specific dampers open or close. This level of temperature control is much higher than a standard HVAC system.

It goes much deeper than simply turning the dampers on or off, though. In fact, the dampers can be modulated to provide the perfect temperature. In other words, they can stay partially open to enable fine-tuning of the system.

Control Panel

The entire zoning system relies upon a control panel to ensure each zone stays at its desired temperature. Here’s a brief look at what happens:

• Control panel gets a signal
• Zone dampers adjust
• Airflow is controlled
• Appropriate zone receives air/heat

Why Are HVAC Professionals Required?

Per the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 30% on your energy bills with HVAC zoning. Now that you have a better understanding of how HVAC zoning systems work, it’s time to turn our attention to the installation process. While you might think that installing zones won’t be too difficult, we assure you that it’s harder than installing an HVAC system. Top reasons to hire a professional HVAC installer for your zoning system include:

Expert Installation

First and foremost, hiring a professional means taking advantage of their considerable skills and knowledge. There is no reason to stress out about installing dampers or modifying your ductwork. Instead, you can relax and allow our team of expert HVAC technicians in Milford to take care of everything for you.

Can Integrate With Existing System

It’s vital to have your existing HVAC system seamlessly integrate with your new zoning system. This is the best way to ensure optimal performance, and it can also save you some money. If, on the other hand, you try to install HVAC zoning yourself, it’s definitely possible to accidentally mess up either your HVAC system or zoning system, and you can’t ensure compatibility because you won’t have the necessary experience.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

A professional has the necessary knowledge to troubleshoot if any issues arise when your HVAC zoning system is installed. Failure to do so could result in a system that doesn’t work correctly. Furthermore, an HVAC expert can provide ongoing maintenance for your system.

Increased Comfort and Efficiency

The difference between a professional installation or a DIY project can be huge. For example, only a professional can ensure that your HVAC zoning system is working correctly. Sure, you can tell if it doesn’t turn on, but you’re not going to be able to verify that your system gives you the highest energy savings.

HVAC Zoning Warranties

Your HVAC zoning system should come with a warranty. Please note that this warranty will usually be voided if you install your system yourself.

Warranty Requirements

Your warranty usually comes with specific requirements, and these often stipulate professional installation by certified contractors. This ensures adherence to local building codes and manufacturer guidelines. Always call in a professional for installation to avoid immediately voiding your warranty and to ensure you’re protected if something breaks.

Warranty Claim

Let’s say that your HVAC zoning system breaks down. Unless an expert HVAC installer handled installation, you won’t be able to make the necessary warranty claim.

Avoid an Improperly Installed Unit

There are several issues that may arise if you choose to do a DIY installation, including:

• Incorrect wiring
• Inaccurate refrigerant charging
• Improper ductwork setup

Not only will these things void your warranty, but they can also severely diminish your cost savings. Therefore, always choose a professional installer.

Top HVAC Team in Milford

Tingley Home Services has been providing HVAC services throughout the Milford area for more than 20 years, and these services include maintenance, repair and replacement for cooling systems and heaters. We firmly believe in prioritizing customer satisfaction over sales. We’ve built a customer-centric company, along with a vibrant company culture. This has helped us achieve an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and recognition from Angi.

We firmly believe in providing professionalism to each client. Plus, we’ve set the highest standards of quality for our expert team. Additionally, we’re also believers in assisting the local community through endeavors such as sponsoring the Sturbridge Girls Softball League and MHS Boosters Turkey Day 5K and Fun Run.

If you are interested in having an HVAC zoning system installed in your Milford home, reach out to the experts at Tingley Home Services.