October 10, 2024
Your central HVAC system heats and cools your St. Louis, MO home uniformly. When you turn on your heater, heat pump, or air conditioner, it runs until all rooms reach the temperature that you’ve set on your thermostat. Unfortunately, this isn’t the most efficient solution for most households.
Standard central HVAC systems regulate temperatures in spaces even when no one is actively using them. With a zone damper system, you can customize the delivery of heated and cooled air to suit your real-time needs.
What Is a Zone Damper System?
Zoned HVAC systems, also known as zone damper systems, allow residents to customize the distribution of conditioned air in their immediate areas. In some households, residents close nearby air vents when they no longer want heating or air conditioning. Although this tactic works, it places tremendous stress on heaters and air conditioners. With nowhere to go, unwanted air builds in HVAC ducting. The resulting increases in static pressure inhibit airflow in other areas and cause problems like:
- Rising humidity
- Short cycling
- Icing
- Overheating
- Shutdown
Zone damper systems have built-in mitigation features that prevent increases in static pressure. They’re also easier to adjust than standing on chairs to reach vent levers when air vents are installed on ceilings or high up on walls.
Multiple Thermostats and Central Zone Control Systems
A zone damper system has multiple thermostats and a central zone control system. HVAC technicians divide buildings into two to four service areas based on their layouts, the needs of residents, and other factors. Each service area or zone has its own thermostat that can be controlled independently. This thermostat sends “call” or “hold” signals to the central zone controller that opens and closes dampers as needed.
Duct Dampers
Zone dampers open and close to permit or block heated or cooled air. For instance, if you’re in a downstairs room and no longer want heated air even though your furnace is currently routing it to other areas, you can turn your downstairs thermostat down. The corresponding duct damper will seal shut so that all of the warm air that your heater produces is routed to upstairs rooms instead.
If you grow chilly and suddenly want heat, raising your thermostat setting will cause the corresponding damper to reopen. Your thermostat will send a “call” signal to the central zone controller, and the zone controller will open the damper.
Bypass Ducts or Enhanced Duct Sizes
Bypass ducts or larger duct sizes ensure that closed dampers don’t have the same impact on HVAC systems that vent closures do. Rather than building up in air ducts and causing increased static pressure and airflow problems, unwanted air can move into bypass ducts or fill the extra space in oversized duct sections. These additions prevent the customization of air delivery from shortening the lifespans of heaters and air conditioners or decreasing their efficiency.
The Benefits of Zone Damper Systems
Few households have residents who want the same indoor temperature all the time. You might have people living in your home who often feel hot and others who run cold. Setting a single temperature for the entire building could leave one or more family members uncomfortable. It also often leads to unsafe or inefficient mitigation strategies like closing air vents or opening windows while heaters or air conditioners are in use.
Customized Comfort and Fewer Disputes Over Thermostat Settings
With a zone damper system, everyone in your household can maintain the conditions that they want in their immediate areas. You can also avoid arguments over thermostat settings, vent position adjustments, and other measures that raise your energy bills or set the stage for indoor air quality (IAQ) and HVAC problems.
Lower Home Energy Bills
Zoning your HVAC system will eliminate the need to heat and cool spaces that aren’t in use. When people in your household leave for work or school, go on vacation, or head out for errands, they can adjust their thermostats accordingly. If you opt to use smart or programmable thermostats in your zoned HVAC system, residents can adjust their heating and cooling schedules to reflect their comings and goings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this HVAC system upgrade could cut your heating and cooling-related energy use by as much as 30%.
Less Stress for Your HVAC Equipment
Customized temperature control takes less of a toll on HVAC systems than uniform temperature control. With less work to do, heat pumps, furnaces, and ACs often last longer. They also require fewer wear-related repairs throughout their lifespans.
Common Configurations for Zoned HVAC Systems
The most common configuration for a zoned HVAC system is to have one zone upstairs and one downstairs. After all, most two-story homes have the majority of their bedrooms on the second floor. When everyone goes to bed at night, residents can set their downstairs thermostats accordingly. This eliminates the need to heat or cool empty floors for eight hours or longer.
With central zoning systems that support up to four zones, two-bedroom homes can have a zone upstairs, one downstairs, and separate zones in each bedroom. This level of customization works well for smaller households with residents who have dramatically different temperature preferences.
With a three-zone system, you can provide heating or cooling to a downstairs bedroom or guest room if the majority of your bedrooms are upstairs. You can have one zone upstairs, one zone downstairs, and separate a zone for the lone bedroom. This way, you won’t have to heat or cool your living room, family room, kitchen, and den just to keep occupants in a single downstairs bedroom comfortable.
Smart HVAC Zoning Features and Capabilities
Smart thermostats and smart zone controllers offer a wealth of cutting-edge features and functions. According to Energy Star, installing smart thermostats alone can cut a household’s heating and cooling-related energy costs by as much as 8% annually. However, these technologies increase efficiency, convenience, and ease of use in many other ways.
Remote Monitoring and Control
Residents can monitor and control smart thermostats remotely. These devices come with branded mobile apps that can be accessed and used from anywhere. You can use your thermostat’s mobile app to:
- Verify or adjust current temperature settings
- Change scheduled temperature adjustments
- Receive HVAC health and performance reports
- Get filter change and maintenance reminders
- Track HVAC-related energy use
With multiple thermostats throughout homes and multiple thermostats using them, remote monitoring gives homeowners peace of mind.
Automatic Updates
Homeowners can set their smart thermostats and smart zone controllers to update overnight automatically or while they’re away. This makes mandatory updates less intrusive.
Since 1978, Scott-Lee Heating Company has proudly served St. Louis and the surrounding communities with expert heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality services. We also offer HVAC zoning, metalwork, new construction HVAC, and geothermal HVAC. To find out more about zone damper systems, request a quote, or schedule an appointment, contact Scott-Lee Heating Company now.