How Zoned A/C Systems Can Stop “Thermostat Wars” in Your Household

You probably have trouble maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home if you and your family can’t agree on a temperature setting for the thermostat.

The ‘right’ temperature setting for you may not be a comfortable temperature for other family members. Your thermostat may become a family battleground for preferred temperature settings on the hottest days of summer.

In the end, everyone may be too hot or too cold for comfort.

If that sounds like your household, a zoned A/C system may be the ideal solution to the “thermostat wars.”

How a Zoned Cooling System Works

A zoned cooling system uses dampers in the ductwork to precisely control airflow to predetermined zones in your home. The dampers open to allow cool air to flow through the vents and close to stop the airflow to specific zones.

While each thermostat controls its own zone in a zoned cooling system, the thermostats are all connected to a central control panel. The dampers in each zone’s ductwork will open or close based on the signals received from the thermostat at the master control panel.

With a zoned A/C system, you can create two or more customized temperature zones in your home so your family members can each set their own desired temperature in a zone for comfort and improved efficiency.

An HVAC pro can help you choose the customized zones in your home where family members can control the temperature in each zone with an individual thermostat that serves only that zone.  One room can be a zone, or a zone can comprise an entire section of your home.

Once you establish the zones, all you need to do is set the desired temperature on the thermostat in each zone. You can set the thermostat in rarely used rooms to a higher temperature, so you won’t waste energy and money keeping them as cool as occupied rooms. Family members can each set their preferred temperature in their zone.

A zoned A/C system will allow you to cool upstairs rooms that never seem to get cool enough without wasting energy by excessively cooling downstairs rooms.

In addition to keeping family peace, a zoned system can end the problem of uneven cooling in your home.

Increased Energy Efficiency

A zoned cooling system can lead to increased savings on energy costs, as you won’t be overly cooling every room in your home because a family member wants their space cooler or cooling rooms no one is using.

Some kitchens may also need more cooling than other areas of a home. You may want your bedroom cooler at night when you’re sleeping but don’t want to waste energy cooling your entire house. A zoned A/C system is an ideal customized cooling solution.

A zoned A/C system should significantly increase energy savings for multi-story homes, homes with high ceilings, rooms over hot garages, and rooms that receive a lot of sunlight or have large windows.

You won’t be wasting energy when cooling costs are highest with a zoned cooling system, saving you money.

A zoned A/C system may also improve the air quality in your home, as any particles such as dust or pollen that the air filter doesn’t trap will not circulate throughout your entire home.

You may find that a zoned A/C system is quieter, too, as it only runs in each zone as needed, rather than running longer to cool your entire home to the same temperature.

Less Wear and Tear on Your A/C System

Your cooling system won’t have to run at full blast to cool your entire home with zoned cooling, reducing wear and tear on your A/C system.

The targeted cooling of a zoned system means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard as it would to cool your whole home, which can extend the life of your unit.

However, a zoned A/C system still needs regular maintenance, especially since we run our air conditioners continuously for months during the hot Arizona summers.

Chas Roberts has a 26-point maintenance checklist to keep your A/C system running in peak condition. It includes:

• Check refrigerant levels
• Inspect disconnect switch
• Clean condenser coil
• Test safety controls
• Lubricate all moving parts
• And more

Your air conditioner can’t operate at maximum efficiency if it’s not well-maintained, even with a zoned cooling system.

By neglecting maintenance, you won’t experience the full benefits of a zoned A/C system. You won’t see the maximum energy savings or improved comfort on the hottest days that you’d experience with a well-maintained zoned cooling system.

A Zoned A/C System and Your Existing Air Conditioner

An HVAC pro can install a zoned A/C system with a new A/C unit or your existing system.

However, if your air conditioner is more than ten years old, it’s probably no longer working at peak efficiency, and you may have seen your energy costs rise.

Even well-maintained air conditioners work less efficiently over time, and eventually, it becomes more cost-effective to replace an aging unit than continuously repair it.

If your aging air conditioner isn’t working well anymore, you may want to consider replacing it with a new, more efficient model to get the full benefits of a zoned cooling system.

In addition to helping you establish the zones for a zoned A/C system, the pros at Chas Roberts can help you choose a new, more efficient air conditioner to replace an older unit that may be on the brink of failure.

Conclusion

A zoned A/C system has many benefits, including increased efficiency for lower energy costs, less wear and tear on your A/C system, and eliminating the problem of uneven cooling in your home.

While a zoned A/C system is a significant investment, it’s hard to put a price on the significant zoned cooling benefit of finally ending the family “thermostat wars” in your home and restoring peace and comfort to your household. That benefit is priceless.

Chas Roberts is the oldest and largest residential HVAC company in Arizona and has been family-owned and operated for over 75 years. Contact us for quality, reliable service.