Dual-Zone Heating & Cooling
Are some rooms in your home too hot while others are too cold? Do your family members battle over the thermostat daily? You might think there has to be a better way to keep your home at a more even, comfortable temperature. A technology called dual-zone HVAC may be what you’ve been looking for.
What is dual-zone HVAC? Is this heating and cooling solution right for you?
What Is Dual-Zone HVAC?
Zoning is a way to control your HVAC system to maximize heating and cooling output. It uses multiple sensors, thermostats, and modulating dampers to control the temperature in different “zones” within your home.
Benefits of Dual-Zone HVAC
The concept sounds high-tech, but it’s a growing trend among New Jersey homeowners who want to enjoy these benefits:
- Lower monthly energy bills: Is dual-zone HVAC worth it? Without it, you may have to blast the AC to keep the upper floors in your home cool while the unoccupied basement stays nice and chilly. The ability to transfer some of that cold basement air to the occupied rooms of your home saves energy.
- Customizable heating and cooling: Two-zone or multi-zone HVAC systems allow each occupant to enjoy their individual temperature preferences. For example, Dad can stay cooler in the upstairs office without the baby’s room becoming an icebox during her nap.
- Less wear and tear on the system: A zoned HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard and therefore can last longer, saving you money on repairs and replacements in the future.
Dual-Zone AC & Heating vs. a Dual-Unit System
With a zoned system, one unit provides heating and cooling to multiple areas of your home. In a dual-unit system, you have two totally separate units that each operate a single zone with separate, unconnected thermostats.
Unless you have a reason for having two completely separate systems (e.g., your basement or second story will be a rental unit with a tenant who would like control over their thermostat), a zoned system is generally more cost-effective in terms of installation and maintenance costs.
Is Two-Zone HVAC Right for You?
Before you jump on this technology, it’s important to assess how beneficial it could be for your home. Answer these questions to help you find out:
- Does your home have multiple stories?
- Does your home have a basement?
- Does your home have vaulted ceilings or a loft?
- Are there any rooms with expansive windows?
- Are some parts of your home used infrequently?
- Do any family members have specific temperature preferences that differ from everyone else’s?
If you answer “yes” to two or more of these questions, dual-zone HVAC is definitely worth looking into. Zoning can be retrofitted into an existing HVAC system, so you don’t need to purchase new equipment to take advantage of this technology.
If you’re interested in moving forward with dual-zone HVAC, contact Arctic Air Conditioning to get started.
We proudly serve the New Jersey counties of Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, Union, and Ocean. We install multiple-zone HVAC systems (heat pumps, radiant floor heating systems, and more) every day.
