Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by admin
When you first buy a house, there is always a question about how long the current appliances will last. For example, something like an HVAC split system will typically last about 15 years with furnaces often outlasting the AC unit. Those numbers are for a new system.
A used system might last another ten years or only three and could end up costing you an arm and a leg in repairs and energy bills.
An HVAC zoning system, on the other hand, could potentially save you headaches, money, and energy. Check out our guide to see how it work.
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How Do Zoning Systems Work?
Most zoned systems work by using a ductless HVAC system. There is a unit outside that serves as a heat pump and provides AC. A standard HVAC zoning system kit will come with one outdoor unit and four indoor air handling units.
The air handling units connect with the outdoor unit with small pipes that go through your exterior walls.
Each air handling unit heats or cools an area of your home or a zone. In a standard size home, four air handling units provide sufficient coverage for the space.
How Does a Zoned System Save Money and Energy?
One of the big inefficiencies of central split systems is that must heat or cool the entire house to the temperature on the thermostat. Of course, most people don’t use the whole house all of the time. That means that portions of the house get more heating or cooling than they need.
Good zoning systems let you exert more control. You can raise or lower the temperatures in unused parts of the house. That improves the overall efficiency of your HVAC and minimizes the energy wasted on heating or cooling.
Many zone systems also connect with programmable thermostats, which can refine your control even more.
In turn, you lower your energy costs when utility bills roll around.
What If I Have a Large House?
A zoned system has definite limits in terms of the coverage area for zoning AC or zoning heat. If your home is bigger than the average size, you may need a second outdoor unit and additional indoor air handlers.
HVAC Zoning System Cost
The exact needs of your home will ultimately determine the cost of a zoned system. For a standard ductless system, the cost runs from around $3000 to $4000. Labor and additional fees for things like refrigerant lines can push that number higher.
Is an HVAC Zoning System for You?
An HVAC zoning system offers some benefits. You get more control over how and where you heat and cool in your home.
That extra control often means a more comfortable home. It also lets you waste less energy on heating and cooling areas of the house with no one in them. The energy you don’t waste translates to reduced energy costs on your utility bills.
Looking for more tips on improving the efficiency in your home. Check out the posts over in our Home Improvement section.
Read More: Your Complete Guide to Commercial HVAC Maintenance
