For years, heating and cooling systems relied on a one-size-fits-all approach that involved turning on a system that would heat or cool an entire home. Over the years, the evolution of heating and cooling has made it possible for homeowners to take a more customized approach to their home’s comfort levels. Find out more about how you can use zoning to customize your HVAC system’s performance and your home’s comfort.

Start by Identifying Temperature Trouble Spots

The first step in successful zoning involves identifying where temperature inconsistencies lie. Spend some time walking around your home, and take note of rooms that feel warmer or cooler than others, especially during periods of extreme weather. Rooms with large windows, unfinished basements, and upper-level bedrooms are common trouble spots.

Creating your zoning plan begins with knowing what areas need extra attention. With trouble spots identified, you can decide which areas should be grouped together and how many zones you need. Good observation leads to great results.

Use a Smart Thermostat for Targeted Control

Smart thermostats are excellent tools in your effort to create custom comfort zones in your home. These devices let you program, monitor, and adjust each zone independently. Instead of blasting your entire home with heat or air conditioning, a smart thermostat allows you to heat or cool each zone based on its unique needs.

Many smart thermostat models also learn your habits over time. This feature allows your system to set up its own boundaries based on the temperatures that you generally use in your home. Investing in a smart thermostat is one of the easiest and most effective ways to create custom heating and cooling zones throughout your house.

Choose Motorized Dampers

Motorized dampers are the mechanical background of a zoning system. These pieces of equipment get installed inside your ductwork and open and close based on the information that your thermostat relays. When one zone in your home needs cooling while others don’t, the dampers open and close to ensure that air gets to where it’s needed.

Without dampers, zoning ultimately doesn’t work without installing multiple heating and cooling systems. Dampers allow you to use a single HVAC system to create zones throughout your home. Working with a professional HVAC contractor ensures that your dampers are sized correctly and placed in the right spots to improve performance and give you more control over your system.

Depending on the size and layout of your home, along with the specific comfort needs of the people who live there, HVAC zoning can be a great option for you. If you’re ready to start looking into how zoning can improve comfort in your Tualatin, OR, home, or you need a new AC to boost comfort, call Sky Heating, AC, Plumbing & Electrical.