Single-Zone vs. Multi-Zone HVAC Systems
Table of Contents What Is a Single-Zone HVAC System? What Is a Multi-Zone HVAC System? Single-Zone vs. Multi-Zone HVAC Systems One room’s too cold and another too hot — you need better temperature control for your home. HVAC systems give you the comfort and control you want. But as you look into adding one to your home, you’ll find yourself wondering if you should choose single-zone or multi-zone AC. Both options come with their own benefits, but ultimately, the one you should choose will depend on your specific situation. If you aren’t sure which HVAC system you need, we’re here to help. Consider your home and needs and compare single-zone versus multi-zone HVAC systems with the below guide. What Is a Single-Zone HVAC System? A single-zone HVAC system serves one area or room of your home. How does a single-zone HVAC system work? With a single unit, this system provides the same cooling or heating throughout an area to adjust the temperature. You could use a single-zone HVAC if: You have an addition: When you add on to your house, the new area won’t be connected to the rest of your home’s HVAC. A single-zone system helps cool, heat and ventilate the new area. You have an area that needs extra control: Your current HVAC system may under-serve some areas of your home. Attics and other rooms may be hotter or colder than you like. A single-zone system helps you better control those spots. You have a garage or workshop: Some homeowners condition the air in a garage or workshop with a single-zone HVAC system instead of a window unit. Then, you can still use your windows for airflow while maintaining the temperature and ventilation. You have a small home: Small cabins or other small homes may only need a single-zone system to stay comfortable. That’ll depend on the capacity of the system you’re considering. Just ensure you have adequate airflow with fans to distribute the air throughout your home. What Is a Multi-Zone HVAC System? A multi-zone HVAC system lets you cool, heat or ventilate multiple rooms in your home. But how does a multi-zone HVAC system work? Multiple units go throughout your home to serve different rooms or areas. You get independent control of the spaces within your house with this system because it creates different zones. You may want a multi-zone HVAC system if: You have a large or multilevel home: With multiple levels or large square footage, your home needs more than one HVAC unit. A multi-zone system can accommodate most or all of the rooms and spaces of a larger house. You have rooms with different needs: If an area of your house needs to be cooled more, like the kitchen, and other rooms need to be heated, like bedrooms, a multi-zone system helps you make those adjustments. You live in an old house: An old house makes it challenging to install new ductwork. A multi-zone HVAC system does require installation, but it won’t be as invasive as running ducts through the walls since every room has its own unit. Single-Zone vs. Multi-Zone HVAC Systems To decide which system is best for you, you need to look primarily at your needs and home. If your house could use either a single- or multi-zone system, or you aren’t sure which suits your needs, compare the two solutions — from their advantages to the installation process. Pros of Single-Zone and Multi-Zone HVAC Systems No matter which system you choose, you’ll get the advantages of versatile applications and precise temperature control. From there, you can evaluate the pros of single-zone versus multi-zone HVAC systems since they come with different advantages. The benefits of single-zone HVAC include: Lower cost: Because a single-zone system involves fewer components than a multi-zone installation, it makes sense that a single-zone option is cheaper. That doesn’t mean you should take the lower-cost route and get a single-zone system, though, especially if you have a larger home. But it is an added benefit when you do need a single-zone system. Enhanced comfort: Whether you have an addition or an under-served home area, a single-zone HVAC helps you control its temperature. You won’t have an upstairs room that’s too hot or a downstairs room that’s too cold. Instead, you can enhance the comfort of a room or space in your home to your exact needs. Efficient size: With a smaller space or home, a single-zone system is the way to go. A larger unit or traditional system will shut on and off more often as it won’t take long to adjust your space to the right temperature. That puts unnecessary wear and tear on the machine, meaning you’ll have to get maintenance and repairs more often. While the pros of a single-zone installation are appealing, multi-zone options also come with their own advantages. The benefits of multi-zone HVAC include: Energy efficiency: Be more efficient with your energy spending when you have a multi-zone system. You can adjust the temperature to be more efficient or turn off the HVAC completely in zones that cover unused parts of your home. Better control: Traditional systems only accurately adjust the temperature in the room with the thermostat. A multi-zone system helps you control the temperature in any room or area with its own unit. That gives you better temperature control and accuracy throughout your house. Customization: Better control means you can customize the temperature in every room. This custom comfort is particularly useful for bedrooms. Everyone likes to sleep in a room with a different temperature, and a multi-zone system lets you do that. That means everyone in your home will sleep comfortably with a multi-zone HVAC. Single-Zone vs. Multi-Zone HVAC Installation The installation process varies between these HVAC systems. Again, you shouldn’t compromise and choose one over the other just based on these factors. You’ll have to pick what’s best for your home, but understanding single-zone versus multi-zone HVAC installation will help you see the difference between the two options: Single-zone: For a single-zone system, you have an outdoor and indoor unit. This setup is known
7 Easy Ways to Reduce Monthly AC and Heating Costs
In the summer, the average high temperature in Longview, Texas, is a scorching 94 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, the temperature can fall to as low as 35 degrees. Luckily for you, you have central air conditioning and heating at your home. But you might not feel so lucky when you get the bill for your AC and heating use. If you’re wondering why your AC bill is so high, it’s important to remember that in the average home, around half of all energy costs go toward heating and cooling. Fortunately, it’s a cinch to cut your energy use and save money on your bills. Here’s how to save money on air conditioning and heating costs throughout the year. 1. Adjust Your Thermostat Adjusting your thermostat is one quick and easy way to save electricity while using your AC. If you raise the temperature by about 7 degrees for eight hours a day, such as when you’re at work or asleep, you can cut your home energy bill by 10%. The trick works for both heating and cooling. In the summer, turn your thermostat up to 78 degrees when you’re out and about for the day, then back down to 70 or 71 degrees when you’re home. In the winter, lower the thermostat to 62 or 63 degrees when you’re at work or asleep. Installing a programmable or smart thermostat will make it even more straightforward for you to adjust the temperature and lower your energy costs. 2. Change Your Air Filter The filter in your HVAC system keeps dust and debris from blowing through your home, allowing you and your family to breathe easily. As you use your HVAC system, the air filter can become full of contaminants. The more dust and debris on the filter, the harder it forces the system to work to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. It’s a good idea to replace your system’s air filters at least once a season to maximize the efficiency of your AC or heater. If your AC or heating system gets a workout, you might consider replacing the filter monthly. Some filters are disposable and replaceable, while you’ll need to clean others. Cleaning or replacing the filter can reduce the energy consumption of your system by up to 15%. Changing the air filter is usually a DIY task. However, if you’re not sure about your filter’s location or what type you need to purchase, you can also hire a heating and cooling contractor to perform the replacement for you. 3. Maintain Your Equipment Regularly replacing your system’s air filter is just one maintenance task to perform to keep your AC and heating system operating at peak efficiency. Annual maintenance is also essential. During a yearly maintenance inspection, a technician will thoroughly examine your system, adjust it and clean it. If they notice any problems or issues that could require a more extensive repair down the line, they’ll recommend adjustments to make or small fixes to keep the system working at its best. 4. Seal Windows and Doors When you use your AC, it sends chilled air throughout your home, lowering the temperature and keeping your household comfortable. Ideally, the air you are paying to cool will remain in the home, rather than seeping into the warm world outdoors. The reverse is true when you run the heater. You’re using energy and spending money to raise the temperature of the air. You want to do as much as possible to keep the warm air inside your home. In some cases, cool or warm air can escape through small cracks or openings around door and window frames. Caulking around the windows and doors will help keep cooled or warmed air inside, where it belongs. The caulk will also help to keep warm or cold outside air from getting into your home. Sealing the windows and door frames of your home is a relatively simple do-it-yourself project. If you’re not comfortable DIYing it, you can hire a handyperson to take care of the task. 5. Lower the Blinds While natural sunlight can be an affordable way to light your home during the daytime, in the middle of a Texas summer, letting sunlight into your home can also mean inviting in extra heat. More than three-quarters of the sunlight that falls onto the windows of your home gets converted to heat. The best way to keep that heat out of your house is to cover up the windows with blinds, shades or curtains. Some types of window coverings are more effective than others when it comes to blocking heat. For example, cellular shades or blackout curtains will more effectively block heat than horizontal blinds. When it’s cold outside, covering the windows can prevent heat from leaving your home, helping lower your energy costs. Curtains, shades and drapes do a better job at keeping the heat in, compared to horizontal or vertical blinds. 6. Run Appliances at Night In the heat of summer, the last thing you want to do is cook. But sometimes you’ve got to turn on the oven or use the stove, especially if you eat most of your meals at home. To keep your AC from working overtime to keep your home cool, try to use heat-generating appliances in the evening or at night, when the outside temperatures are lower. That can mean you bake cookies, bread or cakes in the evening or meal prep the night before, so you have lunch and dinner ready to go for the next day. You might also want to run your dryer, washing machine and dishwasher in the evening to keep them from raising the interior temperature too much. 7. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems In some cases, the most straightforward way to save money on your air conditioning and heating costs is to upgrade your heating and cooling systems. The law requires newer units to be more energy-efficient than older models. Although the average lifespan can vary, you’ll typically replace your air conditioner every 10 years and your
How to Choose a New HVAC System
Table of Contents How Much is a New HVAC System? Factors for Choosing the Right HVAC System Common Mistakes When Buying an HVAC System If your HVAC unit doesn’t keep your home cool in the summer, it may be time for an upgrade. Buy a brand-new energy-efficient air conditioner to reduce your monthly energy expenses and provide better air quality for your living space. This guide will help you figure out how to choose a new HVAC system. How Much Is a New HVAC Unit? The cost to install a new HVAC system depends on several factors, including: Your home’s construction: The products and methods necessary for your HVAC installation depend on your property’s energy efficiency and size. A bigger house will need a larger, more expensive AC, but you can expect to save money on your HVAC expenses if your living space has energy-efficient windows and insulation in the walls. Before installing your HVAC system, you should seal any cracks in the walls or around the doors that could let in air drafts. The size of your unit: Each HVAC unit features different cooling and heating capacities measured in British thermal units (BTUs). HVAC systems with a higher BTU range are more expensive because they can produce cold air for more spacious houses. Your home’s location: If your home is in a metro area, you can expect to pay higher costs for the components of your HVAC unit. You’ll also spend more money on a reliable, energy-efficient system if you live in a warmer climate that needs AC all year long. The manufacturing company: Brands such as Trane and Lennox cost the most money, but they’ll last for nearly three decades if you maintain them properly. Goodman is a more budget-friendly company that also provides reliable units that could last a couple of decades. The complexity of the project: Simple projects are often more cost-effective than complicated ones. Unless you’ve had severe issues with the structure of your HVAC unit, including incorrect size, you should replace it with a model that yields a similar BTU count. Adding or changing the ductwork can increase the price of your project, along with any other structural changes the contractor would need to make to your walls or floors. Factors for Choosing the Right HVAC System As you find a central air conditioning system for your house, consider these factors: Type of unit: The most popular residential cooling units are central air conditioning, heat pumps and ductless mini-split systems. Central air uses either a split system or a packaged unit to provide a comfortable atmosphere throughout the home, while heat pumps absorb any excess heat you may have in the home and release it outside. A ductless mini-split system allows you to control the temperature of specific rooms in the house instead of your whole property. Size of the unit: You need the right size for your HVAC system to save money on monthly cooling costs in the warm summer months. Measure the length and width of your living area to determine the square footage. Your local HVAC technician can also measure the space you want to cool and figure out what size air conditioner to order. Maintenance requirements: Your HVAC unit will need annual tune-ups in the spring to get it ready for summer. These inspections include replacing the air filters and cleaning the indoor and outdoor components. Purchase a low-maintenance, cost-effective central cooling system and schedule yearly appointments with the HVAC technician to make sure it works for several decades. Energy efficiency: If you live in a hot area, look for an HVAC system with high energy efficiency. Purchasing an energy-efficient HVAC system will save you 20-40% in energy costs. Check the yellow sticker on your air conditioner to find out its seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER). In Texas, your HVAC unit should have a SEER rating of at least 15. Design and specs: Consider the best features for your HVAC system based on the size of your house. Before ordering a new HVAC unit, find out if your home already has centralized ductwork and decide if you have space for both an indoor and outdoor component. It would help if you also thought about whether you want a centralized thermostat or zoned controls. Available features: Aside from the cooling aspects of your HVAC system, you can also add accessibility features to make it easier to use. Smart HVAC units allow you to monitor your AC from your phone. To maintain the energy-efficiency of your home, you can also upgrade to a thermostat that allows you to create a temperature schedule based on your daily habits. Common Mistakes When Buying an HVAC System Avoid making these errors as you’re shopping for your HVAC system so that you can save money and have a reliable cooling unit for years to come. Replacing without trying to repair: If your HVAC unit isn’t producing cold air, you might need to fix a faulty part instead of replacing the whole thing. An HVAC technician could inspect your system to find the cause of failure. Instead of assuming you need a brand-new AC unit, contact your local contractor to see why it’s not working. Only going with one estimate: Improper installation of your HVAC unit could cause it to break down unexpectedly, so you should find a reliable contractor to do the job right. Try to get multiple estimates from trustworthy companies to get a high-quality product that works for your budget and housing needs. Buying the wrong size: An HVAC unit that’s too big will continuously turn on and shut off, which will cause too much wear and tear on your cooling components. If the system is too small, it won’t effectively cool the air in your property. Consult with your HVAC contractor to ensure the unit you choose is a good fit for your home. Only looking at price: Your goal when choosing the right HVAC system should be to provide a comfortable temperature for your home, even if it’s more expensive than others. While you should buy an HVAC unit according to your budget, consider other factors as
How to Keep Your Home Cool in Summer
In the brutal summer heat, you need a plan to keep your home comfortable. Besides having a high-quality air conditioner, your use of appliances and window treatments could also affect the temperature in your home. You can save money by naturally cooling down your living space to give your HVAC system a break. Having enough ventilation in your living space will improve the health and safety of your family members. Provide a comfortable indoor temperature for your property by following these tips for how to keep your house cool in summer. 10 Ways to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer Maintaining a comfortable temperature in your living space is possible with the right equipment and strategies. Here are some tips for decorating your home and using your appliances wisely. 1. Keep Sunlight Away From Your Windows The light coming into your home through the windows could raise the temperature in your house. Consider the position of the sun and the shade around you to choose the right window treatments. You could reflect the sunlight away from your property with: Curtains: Choose white or light-colored curtains to block out the sun and reflect heat away from the house. Blinds and shades: Close the blinds or roller shades during the sunniest parts of the day to keep your living space cool all summer. For rooms on the first floor, turn your blinds upward to control the direction of the sunlight. Reflective window film: Apply a heat-reducing film to your windows to keep the sunlight outside. 2. Open Your Windows Cross-ventilation creates a flow of air throughout the whole house. Leaving your windows open when the air conditioner is off can reduce indoor pollutants from the air, like dust and allergens. You can regulate the airflow in your house by opening your windows: At both ends of the house: Leave your windows open to promote cross-ventilation throughout your property. This method uses exterior wind to force cool air into the building through one window and back out through the other. For short periods: If you only have a window on one side of a room in your living space, you could open it throughout the day to push the hot air out of the room and replace it with cool air. At night: Before you go to bed, turn off your air conditioner and crack open the windows to take advantage of the breeze outside. You should leave the screen closed so that no one tries to break into your property. 3. Control the Airflow With the Interior Doors Whether you should close or open the doors in your house depends on the type of cooling unit you have. With central air conditioning, the interior walls and doors of your home could prevent the flow of cool air from one room to the other. On the other hand, you should keep the door closed if you’re using a wall or portable air conditioner. Central air conditioning: The vents of modern air conditioning systems need a balance between the warm air they’re consuming and the cold air they’re releasing. Your air conditioner will have to use more energy to cool down your house if you keep your doors closed while it’s running. Open the interior doors to create natural airflow throughout the whole home and to protect the integrity of your air conditioner. Window and portable air conditioners: A window air conditioner controls the temperature of one room or living area instead of your whole property. If you open the door, the air conditioner has to work harder to cool down the room. Close the doors if you’re using portable or window air conditioners so that you can contain the cold air in your living space. 4. Unplug Appliances or Electronics As you use the cooking and entertainment equipment in your house, the energy needed to power them produces heat. You might not realize that these appliances and electric equipment create more work for your air conditioner: Light fixtures: The light bulbs throughout the lamps and ceiling lights in your house can make the room warmer. Turn off your lights when you’re not using them to keep your house cool and save money on electricity costs. Electronic devices: Items that plug into the wall can produce heat throughout the house. When you’re not using an electronic device, unplug it to make sure the atmosphere in your house stays comfortable. Washer and dryer: Since a washer and dryer use hot water and air to clean your clothes, you should avoid using them during the hottest part of the day. Hang your clothes out to dry in the breeze to save money that you would have spent on energy to power your dryer. Cooking appliances: The oven and stove can make and retain heat while you’re cooking. To combat the warmth, cook during cooler parts of the day or prepare your food on the grill outside. 5. Use the Fans to Circulate Air Throughout the home, you may have several types of fans to regulate the temperature of your home. Contrary to popular belief, rather than creating cold air, fans blow hot air out of the room. You could use fans along with air conditioners to carry the air from one room to the other. Control the direction and power of these fans to handle the airflow in your house: Floor fans: Position a floor fan in the entryway of the room so that the air conditioner from the other room can transfer cold air into that space. Whole-house fans: These fans keep your entire house cool and allow your AC unit to work more effectively. Seal the cracks and drafts in your living space to prevent warm air from coming into your house and slowing down the fan’s progress. Ceiling fans: The direction of the ceiling fan controls the flow of air throughout the room. Ceiling fans rotating counter-clockwise blow warm air away from the room toward the top of the house. Using ceiling fans along with your air conditioning unit could save you 4% on your energy bill, according to the U.S.
Common A/C Problems in Your Longview Home
When you live in Longview or Tyler, Texas, you know you’re going to get a lot of hot weather. While it’s true we get a few rainy days, Tyler and Longview get sunshine almost 220 days out of the year. Those sunny days bring warm weather. You can expect temperatures to be above 80 degrees Fahrenheit from late April until early October, and above 90 degrees for much of June, July, August and September. While we all love warm weather, living with so many days above 90 degrees quickly becomes uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous for seniors and infants. Keeping your air conditioning in tip-top condition all year long is not just a good idea, it’s a necessity. Since Tyler and Longview only have a few months you could consider “cool” or even a touch cold, you want to know your air conditioner will start working without problems when the warmer weather appears. If your air conditioning does fail, however, life can be unbearable. Air conditioning repairs can be expensive, so you want to ensure your air conditioning receives regular maintenance throughout the year. An air conditioner is a complicated system that requires the perfect combination of airflow, pressure and temperature to operate correctly. Complex systems, however, mean there are many places your air conditioner can develop problems. Fortunately, not all these problems require expensive repairs. Regular maintenance also means your HVAC technician can catch potentially costly problems before they become severe, thus helping you save money in the long run. 10 Common A/C Problems and Solutions You know you’re going to need your air conditioner to work properly, so here are a few of the more common problems that can plague an air conditioning system and prevent your home from being the cool oasis you desire. 1. Filter It’s amazing how often an air conditioner fails to work properly because of a clogged or dirty filter. You need to follow the manufacturer’s suggestion on how often you should change the filter. Some manufacturers recommend you change it every three months, while others require you to do it monthly. One way to determine if your filter is too dirty is to hold it up to a light. If light passes through the filter, it is still good, but if it doesn’t, it’s time to change it. Clogged and dirty air filters not only block the flow of cool air into your home, but they can also cause the air conditioner’s evaporator coil to freeze, literally creating a block of ice that prevents cooler air from circulating. The Fix: One of the easiest solutions for how to fix an air conditioner that’s not cooling is to check your air filter regularly and change it if it looks dirty or clogged. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for how frequently you should change the filter. 2. Refrigerant Leaks When an air conditioner is low on refrigerant, your air conditioner will struggle to cool your home. There are two reasons for an air conditioner to be low on refrigerant — either it did not get charged correctly at installation, or there is a leak. Fixing it is not merely a matter of adding more refrigerant. If it is leaking, you need to get it repaired quickly. If you notice puddles or pools of liquid next to your air conditioning unit, it can present a health problem. Air conditioning refrigerant can irritate eyes, cause headaches or nausea and induce coughing. If the problem originated at installation, the technician can add the right level of refrigerant. Too much refrigerant can be even worse than too little. There are several ways to tell specifically if you have a refrigerant leak: Ice forms on the outside unit and on the refrigerant line You hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from the air conditioner Your air conditioner won’t cool your home on hot days, but works perfectly on cool days or during the nighttime. The Fix: If you have either of these problems, your best bet is to call an HVAC professional right away. Refrigerant leaks are not something to ignore. You need to get a leaky unit fixed as soon as possible. If the problem is with the refrigerant level, an HVAC technician has the tools to measure the level of refrigerant in your system and make sure you get the right amount. 3. Drainage Dirt, lint and dust can clog your air conditioner’s drain line, just like a clogged air filter. That is especially true when the weather is excessively humid. If the drain line gets clogged, however, that means your drain pan will quickly fill with water. If this water overflows, it may not only damage the rest of the air conditioning unit, but anything near the unit will become soaked and potentially ruined. The Fix: Regularly check to make sure the drain line remains clear. If you know the weather is going to be humid for a few days or even weeks, it’s always a good idea to check for clogs regularly. If you’re using a room air conditioner anywhere in your home, make sure it is level when mounted, or else overflow will be a problem. 4. Breakers or Fuses There are a lot of reasons that your air conditioner may trip your circuit breaker or blow a fuse. If some other part of your air conditioning system is not working properly, the air conditioning unit will draw too much energy trying to keep your home cool. Sometimes, a tripped circuit breaker is the result of a homeowner using too many appliances at once. If you have the television on while you’re doing laundry and someone else is vacuuming at the same time, then you add in the air conditioning unit on a hot day, the circuit breaker may trip. A tripped circuit breaker is a good thing. Circuit breakers exist to make sure that your home doesn’t catch on fire. The Fix: Circuit breakers have three positions — on, off and somewhere in between. If you check the
