The Benefits of Zoned HVAC Systems for Energy Efficiency
Zoning the HVAC system in your Belleville, IL, home is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, reduce monthly utility costs, and enhance your comfort. Zoning allows for customized temperature control by dividing buildings into separate service areas. Each service area or zone has its own smart or programmable thermostat, and household members can control temperatures in each zone independently. Read on to explore the impressive efficiency benefits of HVAC zoning.
Stop Heating or Cooling Unoccupied Areas of Your Home
Central HVAC systems without zoning heat and cool entire homes uniformly, irrespective of family members’ differing preferences and needs. Unfortunately, this means that you’re likely wasting energy heating or cooling spaces that no one is using. Depending upon the layout of your home and the location of your bedrooms, you may even heat and cool entire empty floors. For instance, in many homes, most or all bedrooms are upstairs. When everyone goes to bed at night, all first-floor rooms are empty.
You can eliminate this energy waste by zoning your HVAC system to create one service area upstairs and one service area on the lower level. When everyone is sleeping, your dual-zone system directs all conditioned air upstairs.
You can also add additional zones depending on your needs. For instance, you may have an exercise or hobby area with climate control requirements that are different from those in the rest of your home.
Create the Temperatures Family Members Want in Their Immediate Areas
Zoning also makes it possible for family members to enjoy the temperatures they want within their immediate areas. This eliminates arguments over thermostat settings and results in a more peaceful household.
Avoid Open Windows and Vent Closures
By meeting everyone’s demands, zoning also prevents the temptation for household members to close vents or open windows. When areas are too hot or cold for a person’s liking, they may close the HVAC supply vent in their immediate vicinity or crack a window to make temporary temperature adjustments. Unfortunately, things like open windows and vent closures place tremendous stress on HVAC systems. They force heaters and air conditioners to work both harder and longer to get their jobs done. Not only does this result in additional energy use, but it also contributes to wear and tear on the system, necessitating more frequent repairs and resulting in a shorter system lifetime.
Zonning Your Home Allows You to Take Advantage of Cutting-Edge Smart Technologies
Zoned HVAC systems can use advanced smart technologies to deliver optimal comfort and efficiency. These systems include multiple thermostats, duct dampers, bypass ducts, and an integrated zone control system that communicates with the individual smart thermostats controlling the temperature in each living space within your home.
The zone control system manages the flow of conditioned air based on signals from these thermostats. When a thermostat calls for heating or cooling, the control system opens the corresponding duct dampers to allow conditioned air into that zone. Conversely, when a thermostat sends a hold signal, indicating no need for conditioned air, the control system closes the dampers for that zone and opens bypass ducts to redirect the air. This technology prevents air from building up in the ducts, which can lead to increased static pressure and reduced efficiency. Smart-zoned HVAC systems effectively manage airflow, ensuring your heating and cooling system operates optimally.
Smart systems also offer many advanced features that traditional ones do not, including:
- Energy consumption tracking
- Remote temperature monitoring and adjustments
- HVAC performance alerts
- Indoor air quality alerts
- Filter change and tune-up service reminders
With this extra support, you can keep your HVAC system performing efficiently all the time. These features help homeowners catch and correct problems early on, identify sudden or unusual changes in their energy use, and stay on top of all manufacturer-recommended HVAC maintenance.
Contact the Pros
At BELOMAN, we’re committed to helping homeowners in Belleville, IL and the surrounding areas cut their carbon footprints and home energy bills. We install, maintain, and repair heating and cooling systems. Additionally, we provide indoor air quality and plumbing services. To find out more about HVAC zoning or request a quote, get in touch with one of our experienced team members today.
