Is Zoned Heating and Cooling Worth It?

How Does It Work and Will It Work For You?

Many clients ask us about zoned heating and cooling for their overall commercial HVAC strategy. The truth is that it’s an excellent way in many circumstances to lower heating and cooling costs, if it’s used effectively. If it’s not, you may end up with more expensive HVAC that doesn’t seem to work very well, either.  Here’s more information to help you tell the difference.

Good Zoned Heating and Cooling: What It Means for Your Commercial Building

Good zoned commercial heating and air conditioning requires more than one thermostat to allow individual “zones” of your building greater control over their indoor comfort. An unused conference room or warehouse area might not require much heating in the winter, while a busy office might necessitate warmer temperatures to keep employees comfortable. Each connected to their own thermostats, zone dampers make this possible. Added to your ductwork, they allow you to direct warmed or cooled air into one area, while bypassing another.

The energy and thus cost savings in this arrangement may seem obvious. In winter, as things on the west or south side of your building heat up around noontime because of sun exposure, the system won’t have to do as much to heat to a desired temperature as it would for a shaded or naturally cooler part of the building. The good news too is that your overall HVAC system will last longer, because it doesn’t have to work as hard overall to maintain indoor comfort.

Bad Zoned Heating and Cooling: Don’t Make These Mistakes

As you might guess, there are some caveats to these recommendations. If your HVAC only operates with one thermostat or at a single stage  (meaning it only runs at 100%), your system is not a candidate for effective zoned heating and air conditioning. With only an on/off, it won’t matter if you’re only heating one part of your building, since it’s working just as hard to heat one area as it would 20 different zones.

Furthermore, make sure your ducts and damper components are well suited for zoned HVAC systems. The wrong equipment will result in leaks in the ductwork, meaning a little of the redirected hot or cool air will be inadvertently sent into the wrong parts of the building, costing you money and wasting energy. This can also result in excess humidity within parts of your system, leading to possible mold growth or worse.

Good zoned heating and cooling can be a lifesaver for indoor comfort when it comes to your commercial building. Take your time and do your research to ensure the best possible outcome.

Zoned heating and cooling can save a lot of energy and money when it comes to commercial HVAC. Find out more by calling Air-Tro, the heating and cooling experts for the San Gabriel Valley, since 1969! Get in touch today (626) 357-3535.