Is air conditioning zoning right for your home or business?

Make sure your air con system treats all areas the same way

Let’s take a look at the functionality and purpose of a zoned air conditioner.

What is air con zoning and how does it work?

Installing a zoned air con system allows you to control different areas of your home (or business) depending on their use and the preferences of the people who use them.

“Old school” central air conditioners worked by cooling the entire space, meaning that every room had the same temperature and amount of air flow. The entire home was controlled by a single thermostat, which had to work intensely to overcome temperature variations.

Then there was the ever-controversial desire for different family members to set the air con to different temperatures. A sure-fire way to kick off a family row!

It’s little wonder that air conditioner manufacturers began to work on zoning as a solution to create different “micro-climates” for each area of the house.

With the help of air con zoning technology, air is distributed where and when it’s needed, increasing everyone’s comfort and decreasing cost and energy usage – oh and increasing family harmony too!

Is an air con zoned system right for you?

If you have multiple zones you need to control throughout your home or office, the answer is probably yes. As well as this, the following situations can mean that air conditioning zoning becomes a necessity rather than simply an option.

Multi-storey homes or office buildings

Because heat rises, the highest levels of a building tend to be warmer than the lower ones. That means introducing a zoned air con system will help you overcome these variations.

Vaulted or high ceilings

Although they’re less common here in Australia, some homes feature a living room with a vaulted ceiling while the bedrooms don’t. This can cause uneven airflow which may lead to temperature variations through the home.

Areas of your home that are used more (or less) frequently

If you spend say more time in the living room or you work from home during the day, then you can zone the spaces according to your needs. Conversely, if you find you’re out in the garden or at the office frequently, then you can turn off the areas that you’re not using.

Different temperatures for different family members

You’re probably familiar with this one – it’s been proven that some people feel the cold more than others, but on the other hand, they can tolerate much higher temperatures.

You can avoid never-ending conflicts on this hot topic by setting zones that allow individual control of the preferred temperature without affecting others.

Smart air conditioning zoning systems

Traditional air conditioning zoning requires a large common space which has to be open at all times, to prevent air pressure build-up and damage to the ductwork. That zone can occupy up to 25% of a home and needs to be cooled no matter if you use it or not, which means energy waste and higher costs.

A better, more modern solution are smart zoning systems, which allow you to monitor and control different areas of your home with the touch of a button. The larger air conditioning companies are constantly innovating and bringing newer models and technologies, but a few examples are:

  • ZoneMaster: ZoneTouch, ZoneSwitch, Air Touch 3
  • Nest Zoning – Nest Thermostat
  • iZone

Talk to Jaric Group for the best advice on smart air conditioning

No matter your choice, always remember that the right air conditioning option is the one that suits you best! For more air conditioner advice contact us online or call Jaric Electrical on 1300 452 742 today.

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