What if an electrician came to your home and rewired your house so that all of the lights were turned off and on at the same time using a single switch? Most homeowners would show that electrician the door. However we still use that same impractical and inefficient concept for heating and cooling our homes. A single thermostat controls the temperature for the entire house, leaving some rooms hot, some rooms cold, and some rooms in a constant state of flux.

For decades, homeowners have accepted this one-thermostat-for-all-rooms solution. They’ve begrudgingly used space heaters and window air conditioners in order to try and even out temperatures in attics, basements, rec rooms, and bedrooms that never feel comfortable. However, there are plenty of options when it comes to controlling home comfort. Whether the problem is a single room or single area of the home, or you’re looking for a more cost-effective and energy-conscious solution for the entire house, there are options.

Controlled Comfort With Home Zoning

A zoned home is divided into segments, based upon each segment’s need for conditioning. Each zone is controlled by a thermostat, but instead of those thermostats connecting to a single unit, each zone has its own, individual split-conditioning system that keeps that zone the perfect temperature, without affecting other zones. This can improve energy efficiency and reduces heating and cooling costs across the board.

Zoning is very popular in new builds, but it is also possible for existing homes. Zoning is appropriate for all homes that:

  • Have two or more levels
  • Have rooms with large windows and/or vaulted ceilings
  • Make use of basements or attics as living space
  • Are built over concrete slabs
  • Experience extreme temperature swings or differentials
  • Are over 60 years old and cannot be torn up for ductwork
  • Experience family fights over the thermostat

Stop Treating Symptoms

In the past, homeowners have been forced to either accept hot spots and cold spots, or they have had to resort to expensive “band-aid” approaches like window Ac units or space heaters to control the temperature in different areas of their home. These spot fixes can help control comfort, but they are expensive both to purchase and utilize, and they don’t solve the larger problem. It’s like taking aspirin when you have the flu – it can help treat the symptoms, but it doesn’t cure the virus.

Home zoning is an energy-efficient and cost-effective way to achieve the comfort that homeowners and their families deserve. Each zone is controlled by its own, individual thermostat that eliminates the need for supplemental systems and reduces energy bills. Once installed, zoned units are extremely quiet, causing no disruption in the everyday activities of life.

Single-unit cooling and heating is impractical and unnecessary. Homeowners have options that are completely customizable based upon individual needs and preferences. With home-zoning, families not only achieve comfort, but harmony in the home.

This article and its content are sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric US Inc., Cooling & Heating Division.