Despite the advances in HVAC technology, there is always room for improvement. Enhancements are meant to improve homeowners' comfort levels regardless of the weather. A notable technology that has massively enhanced the capabilities of an air conditioning system is zone control. The system gives homeowners control over the distribution of cool and heated air for maximum comfort. That said, a zone control system consists of fundamental elements for optimal performance. This article explores the top components of a zone control AC system.
Thermostats
Air conditioning is all about controlling the temperature of different rooms in a house. The function is made easy by connecting a thermostat to an air conditioner to help monitor the temperature. A key characteristic of a zone control system is that it divides a home into different sections, which requires the installation of several thermostats. The devices work independently to control the temperatures of different zones. Notably, you need a thermostat for each room in your home. However, two or three rooms can be categorised into one zone, particularly in open-floor home designs. An excellent starting point is to survey your home with an HVAC contractor. An expert will help you to conceptualise the number of thermostats required.
Duct Dampers
The ductwork in a reverse-cycle air conditioning system helps in the efficient delivery of cool and heated air to the various rooms or zones. However, raising or lowering the temperature of a particular zone is usually inefficient. For example, it takes a few minutes for the temperatures in the respective zone to adjust to the required levels. It can be attributed to the trapped air remaining in ductwork once a thermostat is adjusted. For this reason, a zone control system should be equipped with automatic dampers for efficiency. Dampers open or close accordingly to regulate the amount of cool or heated air being delivered to a specific zone. For instance, if you continuously need cool air in a living room, dampers open and close over short periods. However, if you need relatively warm air in a bedroom, dampers open and release cool air close over extended intervals.
Centralised Controls
All thermostats and dampers should be controlled from a central control panel. However, panels vary from one manufacturer to another; therefore, you need to be careful when buying one. Ideally, the best central control panel clearly indicates the different zones, thermostats and dampers. Since a control panel relays the state of the different zones, the display unit must be user-friendly. The best part is that some control panels are compatible with smartphone technology for convenience, particularly in a big house.
Contact an air conditioning contractor to learn more.
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