Many homeowners experience the same kind of problem every winter. They feel comfortable in most parts of the house, but there are certain areas that are inexplicably colder than the rest.
The problem could be the result of a single thermostat that controls the temperature throughout the entire house. Upgrading to a thermostat zoning system is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to solve this problem. Zoning systems can also help you save on your energy bills.
The main reason that cold (and possibly hot) zones occur is that your furnace or boiler generally distributes conditioned air or heated water evenly to all parts of your home, even though certain areas might need more heat or cooling than others. Factors such as windows that allow for more heat to transfer in and out of a room, or the simple fact that heat rises, will mean that there will almost always be parts of a home that are naturally colder or warmer than others. Zoning systems circumvent these problems by dividing the home into several zones, with each one controlled by its own thermostat.
With each thermostat in control of a smaller area, energy is distributed according to the needs of that particular zone. This helps to compensate for factors such as windows or cathedral ceilings that increase or decrease the heating load required by your furnace.
Zoning systems also offer choice: you can set different temperatures in each zone. Instead of having to agree on one ideal temperature, the occupants of each area have the freedom to decide the thermostat's setting. For example, Mom can have the downstairs living room 4 degrees cooler than the kids playing upstairs.
Zoning systems use your current HVAC system’s components so the installation is a relatively quick, simple process. The system requires several thermostats, a control panel, and dampers for the ductwork, with minor ductwork modification required at times. Hot water boiler systems can be more difficult to zone but certainly provide a return on the investment.
To learn more about the many advantages that zoned temperature controls provide, contact Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We have served Massachusetts for more than 80 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about zoning systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
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Both Alex and Patrick were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. They made a change that might have solved the recent problem and have structured a more complete solution. We agreed to this...
Mike was thorough, thoughtful and considerate. Covered their shoes before entering, surveyed my issue and provided an explanation of the services and costs. Great Job!
Alex did a great job providing an explanation of the services provided and went out of his way to offer assistance/advice on other issues outside of our scheduled maintenance visit.
Brian did an excellent job inspecting our 18-year old boiler and replacing some of the accessory hardware that needed it, he also adjusted the outgoing hot water settings for our radiators and...
Rodenhiser is my one stop shop!!! They take care of my HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues & are always helpful addressing any questions I may have about the systems in my house! Everyone...
Chris G. and Nick V. showed up bright and early at 8am to fix my water heater issue. They were on time, polite and were able to fix an issue that has been plaguing my house for a good year. They...
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