When you live in Omaha, you’re used to weather on opposite extremes. Winter is extremely cold, and summer is extremely hot. This makes heating your home challenging, especially if your home is two stories or very large.

Between freezing, sweating and wasting money on inefficient heating and cooling, there has got to be an easier way, right? Right! The answer is an HVAC zoning system.

What Is Zoned Heating?

A zoned heating system uses dampers within ductwork to send air to different parts of your home. This improves comfort and efficiency since you can create custom temperature zones in certain parts of your home.

Some of these areas include:

  • Second or third stories.
  • Finished basements or attics.
  • Rooms that feel hotter or colder than the rest of the house.
  • Rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows or cathedral ceilings.

Zoned heating differs from just closing a register vent. Closing too many vents can cause an imbalance in air pressure and overwork your furnace.

How Zone Heating Works

Zoned heating has two or more zones, which are designated areas of your home. It will work with your furnace to increase, reduce or shut off heating in each zone. It does this by opening and closing dampers within ductwork.

A thermostat and control panel regulate each zone independently. When one zone isn’t needed, the dampers close to redirect the air to other zones. Air will also be redirected when the thermostat reaches your desired temperature.

4 Benefits of Zoning Your House

  1. Improved energy efficiency. Even if your room has comfort challenges like big windows or being in the basement, HVAC zoning keeps you cozy while keeping heating bills low. In fact, the S. Department of Energy says it could help you save up to 30% on energy costs.
  2. Better comfort. With a room-by-room zoning system, you won’t have to struggle with hot and cold spots that make some spaces feel colder than the rest of the house.
  3. Custom temperatures. As you’ve learned earlier, closing a lot of vents isn’t a good idea. If you have rooms you rarely use, like a guest bedroom, you can safely redirect warmth to different heating zones in your house. This is also a great feature if you like to keep your bedroom warmer and your living area cooler at night.
  4. Easier on your furnace. If you’re uncomfortable, chances are you’re cranking up the thermostat. This makes your furnace run longer and more often. Zoning helps you make the most of your heat without taxing your HVAC system.

How Much Does Zoning Cost?

Zoned heating system cost depends on a couple of factors:

  • If you’re installing it in a new or existing home. It’s generally less expensive to install it while your home is being constructed.
  • How many furnace zones you need. The most common is two to four zones, but you may be able to add more. Large homes may benefit from a 3-zone heating system or 4-zone heating system, depending on your comfort needs.

If a zoning system is used properly, it can pay for itself in as few as two to five years.

At A-1 United, we can install a Lennox® zoning solution in your home. Our heating and air conditioning professionals will visit with you to discuss what is best for your family and your home. Give us a call at 402-593-7500 to request a free estimate today!