Zone control is an innovative feature available on many new HVAC systems. Unfortunately, this feature is often undervalued by homeowners, but it can be a great way to increase the efficiency of your heating system.
What is the Zone Control Feature:
The zone control feature is a system that requires the installation of several dampers. These dampers divide the ductwork in your home into several different zones. A thermostat can then be installed to control each zone. This feature allows you to have different rooms or zones set at different temperatures rather than the whole house being set at a central temperature.
Is This New?
The zone control feature has become more commonplace on HVAC systems in recent years. In the past, homeowners looking to achieve this type of temperature control would try to accomplish zone control by manually closing vents in the rooms where they didn’t want heated or cooled air. Unfortunately, this technique could increase wear and tear on the system as heated air was trapped in the ductwork. This technique is not recommended by HVAC professionals and is considered a very bad idea.
How Zone Control Can Improve the Heating of Your Home:
Zone control provides several unique advantages compared to conventional heating. The main advantage of this feature is that you can attain greater control over the heating of specific rooms. A central thermostat is very limited in how it senses the temperature and means that all of the house is set to the same temperature. Depending on the location of your thermostat, you may find that the heating is turned on to compensate for a draft when other parts of the house are already at a comfortable temperature. Alternatively, the thermostat may turn off the heating as it is influenced by a warm kitchen when the rest of the house still feels cold.
When you have a thermostat installed in each zone or room, you can eliminate this issue. You will be able to exert more fine control over the temperatures in each zone. This form of more effective heating is especially beneficial if there are multiple occupants of the house. You can avoid the thermostat arguments caused when people feel comfortable at a different temperature. With zone control, a person watching television in one room can be perfectly comfortable even though a family member prefers it to be cooler or warmer.
You can also increase the energy efficiency of your system by only heating areas of the home that are in use. For example, it can be a waste of energy to heat sleeping areas during the day. With zone control, you can set the temperature far lower in the bedrooms and time the heating to come on during the night. This practice allows you to save energy and reduce your utility bills without feeling uncomfortable or impacting on your lifestyle. Although installing zone control into your heating system may seem like an extravagant expense, you may be pleasantly surprised at how much cash you can save on your energy bills during even the coldest winter months.