Have you ever wondered what a multizone HVAC system is and how it works? Is it better than a single-zone system? It depends on how your home is set up, the ductwork, and whether or not it is compatible with multiple zoning.
What Is a Multizone HVAC System?
A multizone HVAC system features a single control panel where all heating, cooling, and ventilation functions are controlled through a single interface. In doing so, it distributes the heat more evenly and adjusts to the desired temperature more efficiently. The overall result is more comfort and lower energy bills.
How Is It Different Than Single Zone Systems?
A basic HVAC system contains a furnace or heat pump and an air conditioner that is controlled by a single thermostat. In a single-zone system, you turn it on, and the entire house heats or cools at once.
What Are “Zones”?
A zone is simply an area within your home or business that needs its own temperature controls, separate from other areas of the house. An average-size home in the U.S. has two heating zones, upstairs and downstairs, but it can have as many as four zones if you include extra areas like a sunroom or garage.
How Does Zone Heating or Cooling Work?
A multizone HVAC system has an air handler and a separate air conditioner or heat pump for each zone. It uses dampers in the ductwork to control airflow to each zone. Each zone gets its own thermostat, which is connected to the central control panel. The system runs the equipment only when one or more zones require heating or cooling.
In a multizone system, the rooms in the home are divided into multiple zones with their own ductwork, fan, and thermostat. This gives the homeowner the ability to regulate the temperature in each area separately from one another.
The number of zones you’ll need depends on how large your house is and how many rooms need heating or cooling at once. If all of your rooms are heated or cooled at once, you’ll have fewer zones than if some rooms require different temperatures than others.
When no zones need heating or cooling, the dampers close, and the system shuts off automatically. When one or more zones require heating or cooling, the dampers open up, allowing air from other zones to be diverted into the zone that needs it. For example, if you’re only using one zone for heating, then all of the other zones may be in use for cooling purposes. The system will automatically divert cooled air from these other zones into the room that needs it.
The benefit of this type of system is that you can save money by only heating or cooling certain rooms when needed. For example, on a cold winter day, you might not want to heat your entire house if you’re only using certain areas.
By using a multizone system, you can lower the temperatures in the rooms not being used, and turn it up when everyone turns in for the night, which allows you to save energy while still being comfortable!
What Are the Advantages of Using a Multizone HVAC System?
In a multizone system, you can set multiple temperature settings throughout your home and adjust them individually. For example, if you want different temperatures in different rooms, you can use one thermostat to control each room’s temperature. If there are kids who like their rooms warmer than everyone else’s, they can have them without making everyone else uncomfortable by raising the temperature throughout the house.
Multizone HVAC system benefits include:
- Lower energy bills
- Improved comfort levels
- Greater control over temperature
When Is the Best Time to Install a Multizone HVAC System?
The best time to install a multizone HVAC system is when you are building a new home or planning to remodel. If you’ll be adding a new room, putting in new windows or doors, or adding more electrical outlets and switches, installing a multizone HVAC system makes sense.
If you would like more information about zone heating, contact Tyler’s Heating & Cooling. We are a family-owned and -operated business serving the residents of Mishawaka, IN and the surrounding areas. We offer heating and cooling installation, repair, and replacement, as well as commercial servicing. Explore our website or give us a call today for more information!
