Would you like to know what are zoned air conditioners and how they work? If you want to control the temperature in each room independently, you could benefit from this type of system. However, there are other advantages to using it.
A zoned air conditioner system divides the house into different areas and assigns each room or zone a separate air conditioner with its thermostat. In this way, you can control the temperature in each zone without affecting the entire house. Read more to know if it would be right for you.
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How does zoned air conditioning work?
Zoned air conditioning is an excellent way to manage your home temperature and make sure each family member can feel comfortable in a different area of the house. In addition, it is a way to end the constant fights between family members over raising or lowering the thermostat settings.
Establishing a zoned air conditioning system is necessary to divide the house into zones or areas. Each area will have an air conditioner connected to a thermostat to control it. Zoned air conditioners can be ductless or operate with ductwork.
To make the zone air conditioning work when there is ductwork, dampers are placed in the ducts to regulate airflow depending on the desired temperature set on the thermostat. In case the zoned air conditioning system is ductless, dampers are placed on the outlets of each separate conditioner.
The role of the dampers is vital in zoned air conditioning. When you want a cooler temperature in a particular house area, they will open, allowing the cool air to pass through. On the contrary, if you do not want to cool a housing zone, they remain close, blocking airflow into that area.
When do you need zoned air conditioning?
Zoned air conditioning is not always the right solution for everyone. However, there are some cases when dividing the house into zones would make more sense because it can bring more benefits than a central system.
Here are some examples of when it would make sense to have a zoned air conditioning system:
1. Multi-level home
Multi-level homes can have significant differences in temperature between the two levels because heat rises. In this case, during summer, the top floors will be extremely hot compared with the lower levels.
In this situation, a zoned air conditioning system is beneficial since it allows you to compensate for the extra heat on the top floors by setting your air conditioner to produce more cold air.
2. Your rooms always have different temperatures
If there is no way to cool your house uniformly, you should consider a zoned air conditioning system. In this way, regardless of the reasons for the temperature discrepancy across your home, you can still adjust it to reach your desired comfort level.
3. You have high ceilings
High ceilings will collect heat at the top, leaving the lower part of the room colder. A zoned air conditioner system allows you to raise the temperature more frequently or switch off the air conditioner more often in those rooms with high ceilings only.
In this way, you can take advantage of the parts of your house with a high ceiling to stay cool and lower your energy bill.
4. You have large windows
If your home has large windows in some rooms, you may experience a different temperature from the rest of the house due to the sunlight getting through the glass. With a zoned air conditioner system, you can keep those rooms cool without having to freeze when using the rest of the house.
In addition, if your home has a basement, an attic living space, a sunroom, or an expansive layout, you should consider using a zoned air conditioning system and not a central one.
5. You have a large home
A two-story home is not the only case that would require zoned air conditioning. If you have a large house, it can be expensive to cool it during summer. Maybe some parts of the house are not even used at all times.
A zoned air conditioning can help you cool only the parts of the house that are being used. In this way, it is possible to economize a lot of money over a long period.
Advantages of a zoned air conditioning system?
There are several advantages to using a zoned air conditioning system. For example, one of the main reasons for using such a system is energy savings. In addition, this type of system gives total control of what area of the house should be cooled and when.
It is useless to cool the studio or the guest room if no one uses it for several days. A central system will cool every part of the house regardless, and you will spend more than needed. Another advantage is better air quality.
The dampers used to divide the ducts into zones are responsible for sending air only to the part of the house you want so that unwanted dirt and debris that has escaped the filtration system is kept from circulating all over the place.
For those families that can’t agree on a temperature, zoned air conditioning is a must. It allows for having comfortable temperatures based on the preferences of each family member. In addition, if your house has hot spots, a zone air conditioning system can help resolve the situation and eliminate those constantly hot areas.
A zoned HVAC system is not working as long and as hard as a central system, which also means that it will last longer, and you will not have to replace damaged parts as often as with a central air conditioning.
Last but not least, if you choose a ductless zoned air conditioner system, the installation is effortless. It doesn’t require a lot of renovation, and it can be set up pretty fast.
Conclusion
A zoned air conditioning system has several advantages when used in specific circumstances, but it is not necessarily suitable for every house. Contact us for assistance if you think you could benefit from installing a zoned AC system.