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Tell us which rooms never get comfortable. Call (951) 574-1698 and we will tell you whether zoning, ducts or something simpler is the fix.
It is bedtime. The downstairs thermostat reads fine, and the upstairs bedrooms are still stuffy because the one thermostat is measuring the wrong floor. An HVAC zoning system gives each area its own thermostat and its own share of the air. Our Platinum package includes zoning, and any zoned system starts with a free estimate and a look at your ducts. Not sure it fits your house? Ask us. Sometimes duct repair is the cheaper answer.
Zoning does not add cooling power. It changes where the cooling goes.
Separate thermostats
Each zone gets its own thermostat, so the upstairs is no longer judged by the downstairs.
Motorized dampers
Dampers in the ducts open or close to send air only where it is called for.
One control panel
A zone controller ties it together and tells the system when to run.
In a two story tract home, heat from the attic and the floor below stacks up on the second floor. One thermostat on the lower floor shuts the AC off just as the bedrooms need it most. Zoning splits the house so each floor makes its own call for cooling.
Air zoning helps most where the problem is how air is shared, not how much air the system can make. Good HVAC zone control makes that practical.
One thermostat reads one hallway and decides for the whole house. Zoning gives the hot rooms a vote. It will not cool past what the equipment can deliver, and we will tell you if it does not fit your home.
A zone control system has three parts: a thermostat in each zone, motorized dampers in the ductwork and a zone controller that runs them. When one zone calls for cooling, its damper opens and the others close. Equipment that can vary its output copes best with that, which is why our Platinum package pairs zoning with variable speed. A smart thermostat can also serve a zone.
Zoning tends to pay in two story homes, houses with a sunbaked wing, bonus rooms and long duct runs. A dual zone HVAC system, with one zone upstairs and one down, is the common setup. An ADU or converted garage is often better served by a ductless mini split. Our Platinum package includes zoning, and we offer a free consultation on packages.
A small single story home with sound ducts rarely needs zoning. If the real culprit is a leaky or undersized duct, or an old, tired air conditioner, zoning only dresses up the problem. We would rather say so at the estimate. Fix the ducts first with duct repair and sealing, or look at AC replacement if the system itself has run its course.
A zoned system can be paid for over time through our lending partners, with approval and terms set by the lender. Details are on our HVAC financing page. Veterans and first responders can ask about 20 percent off.
Two story neighborhoods in Eastvale, Corona, Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee and Moreno Valley are where we hear the upstairs complaint most. Here is how we work.
An HVAC zoning system divides your home into areas, each with its own thermostat and a motorized damper in the ducts. A control panel opens or closes those dampers so air goes where it is needed. It lets an upstairs and downstairs, or a sunny wing, be controlled separately.
A zone controller is the control panel that connects each zone thermostat to its damper and to your heating and cooling equipment. It decides which dampers open, when the system starts and when it stops. Think of it as the traffic officer of a zoned system.
A 2 zone system, often called a dual zone HVAC system, has two thermostats and dampers that split the ductwork into two areas, usually upstairs and downstairs. When one thermostat calls for cooling, only that zone's damper stays open, so the other area is not over cooled.
Zoned heating works the same way as zoned cooling, but it sends warm air only to the zones that need it. Rooms that stay chilly can get heat without warming the whole house. It uses the same dampers, thermostats and controller, so one zoned system can handle both.
The price depends on how many zones you want, your duct layout and your equipment, so we give you a firm number once we have seen the house, not a guess by phone. A lender we work with can spread the payments, and veterans and first responders save 20 percent with proof of service.
Sometimes. It depends on the duct layout, how much room there is for dampers and whether the equipment can handle a closed zone. We inspect the ducts at the free estimate. If zoning is a poor fit, we will say so and suggest a simpler fix.
It can, if you stop cooling rooms nobody uses. It is not a guaranteed saving, and it will not fix leaky ducts or an undersized system. The main payoff is comfort: no more cold downstairs just to get the upstairs cool.
Our Platinum package, described as luxury total home comfort, includes zoning alongside top tier variable speed, smart home integration and built in humidity control. All packages are available in 2 to 5 ton. See HVAC packages for the full Bronze to Platinum comparison.
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