Back in the day, as they say, the classic example of a home that needed zoning was the two- or three-bedroom, two-story where the upstairs was always too warm and the basement was chilly. Well, times have changed.
Here are four reasons why zoning has become one of the hottest (coolest?) topics in homeownership:
1. While houses are larger now and most contractors will assure you that the system is sophisticated and multi-dimensional, most of us say there are still hot spots or cool zones in specific areas of the house.
2. One thing that has changed in the whole subject of heating and cooling is the need for ducts. Getting one’s ducts in order was always a challenge. For one thing, some percentage of your cooled or heated air is lost as it’s being transported from one end of the home to the other. For another thing, ductwork must be constantly maintained: It leaks, breaks, twists, and in general deteriorates.
3. Today’s new systems are ductless. If the HVAC gods had their way, there would be a small unit in each room, controlled by its own thermostat. (See this discussion of ductless mini-splits: http://www.acdoctor.com/get-educated/ductless-mini-split/)
4. If you are stuck with a ducted system, there are still some solutions— such as system-wide HVAC zoning, where you have multiple thermostats connected to one control panel, which operates dampers in your duct network. Since the DOE maintains this system will save you money, you might be able to write off some or all of the expense on your tax return. (Check with your accountant on this; it depends on your location and the specific system you install.)
A truly comprehensive retrofit will take in all factors— from your use of the rooms, seasonality, number of occupants both human and non-human, electricity rates, and on and on.
If you are still reading, you are obviously intrigued with the subject. So go on our website and locate/arrange to meet with a few contractors: http://www.acdoctor.com/find-contractor/
And if you are still hungry for more data, here is a more-than-you-ever-need-to-know report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories: http://www.acdoctor.com/find-contractor/
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