A lot of people have trouble keeping a consistent temperature throughout their house – especially if there is more than one floor. Often times the upstairs section of the home is a different temperature than the lower levels. This is especially true during the summer months. It is hard to keep the upstairs rooms from getting too warm while not overcooling the downstairs. A lot of this is of course due to the fact that there is typically only one thermostat in a house and that thermostat is only able to gauge the temperature in one spot in the house – usually downstairs. You are also working against the basic laws of nature – warm air rises. Additionally certain rooms (such as those facing south) are going to be a lot warmer than others due to direct sunlight exposure.
So, what can you do to combat this issue? Well, some people are interested in exploring the idea of having zones in their home. What this basically means is that you can split up your home into different areas and have the ability to control the temperature of each area or zone independently. This can certainly keep the section of the home that you are using at a comfortable temperature without attempting to keep the entire house at that same level.
In order to have zones in your home, you will need more than one thermostat – one for each zone and you will also need to have vents installed inside of your duct system. All of the thermostats and vents are then connected to a central control panel. The control panel then reads where and when to open and close the vents according to the hotter or colder areas of the house. This allows homeowners to control the area that they are currently using and not worry about the rest of the house. Having zones affects both heating and cooling in a home so the benefits can be enjoyed year-round.
Keep in mind that there are very simple ways to zone a home and there are very high tech approaches so be sure to evaluate your options. Due to the complexity of zoning, we recommend hiring a professional to evaluate your zone options. It is important to note that some houses are not able to have zoning systems installed due to restricted access to ductwork.
Zone heating and cooling can also save you money on your energy bills. By not having to cool your lower levels all day during the summer or heat your upstairs rooms all day during the winter you are going to be using less energy. We would certainly recommend purchasing programmable thermostats to be used with your zones – it just makes it that much more energy efficient.
As mentioned previously, zones can certainly help homes with multiple floors but it can also help better control the temperature in homes with vaulted or high ceilings, lots of windows or living space in the basement or attic.
If you have any questions about how to cool your home more efficiently this summer and are wondering about zones, please call Dan Schmied at 720-876-7166 or email him directly at [email protected]. Estimates are always free!
