Air conditioning systems have been a part of indoor environments for a long time. While indoor comfort and optimal air quality are still essential elements when considering an air conditioning system, getting an energy-efficient unit is also crucial. Energy-efficiency is, in fact, among the primary aspects on which people base their choice of an HVAC unit.
Zoned HVAC units are currently among the most popular options in the market. These divide your property into separate areas and allow the control of heating and cooling in them. Other than lowering the frequency of heating repair for your Draper property, zoned units guarantee a reduction of about 30% in energy bills. They also enhance the comfort of rooms that are occupied, eliminate hot and cold areas, and are easy to control.
You do not need two or more HVAC units for the creation of zoned systems. An HVAC technician only needs to add the following components in your zones:
Zone dampers
Your ductwork’s design will determine the dampers that your unit will need. Zone dampers will be installed in your ductwork to regulate airflow to a specific zone in your house. The dampers are wired to one zone on your HVAC’s control panel. They open and close depending on the temperature reading of your thermostat. Zone dampers are more or less the valves in your duct system for diverting air where it is needed.
Temperature control
Temperature monitoring and control enables the separate monitoring of zones and the adjustments of temperature to match your needs. Temperature control devices come in two variants. The simplest option is to install a thermostat in each of the zones to monitor then control temperatures. The other alternative is to have sensors and thermostats in every zone. These relay the information collected to a central thermostat that, in turn, controls the air conditioning in each area. The multi-zone setting allows the control of your entire zoned system from one location on a smart device.
Control panel
This is best described as the ‘’brains’’ of your entire zoned systems. It is a computer-like board that will read the information of all thermostats then control the operation of different HVAC components. When, for instance, your control panel gets a reading, it can close the dampers for the zones that are not in use.
Bypass dampers
These are not found in all zoned HVAC units. They are meant to relieve pressure in your ducts when some zones in your system are closed. The bypass dampers will redirect the excess air back into your HVAC unit for re-circulation. A few modern units, however, use barometric zone dampers for the relief of excess air pressure.
When considering the installation of a zoned unit in your property, it is best to hire a professional. The technician will first determine how many zones will work best for your space and layout and what rooms should fall into specific zones. These decisions will determine which of the above components are needed in your zones. Though the installation of a zoned unit is more expensive than a conventional one, the savings you reap make it worth it.
