How it works

In a typical zoning system, sensors in each room or group of rooms, or zones, monitor the temperature. The sensors can detect where and when heated or cooled air is needed.

These sensors send information to a central controller that activates the zoning system, adjusting motorized dampers in the ductwork and sending conditioned air only to the zone in which it is needed.

By delivering conditioned air only to areas that are in use, a zoning system eliminates the needless waste of keeping unused areas comfortable.

More comfortable

A zoned system quickly adapts to changing conditions in one area without affecting other areas. For example, many two-story houses are zoned by floor. Because heat rises, the second floor usually requires more cooling in the summer and less heating in the winter than the first floor.

A non-zoned system can't completely accommodate this seasonal variation. Zoning, however, can eliminate wide variations in temperature between floors by supplying heating or cooling only to the space that needs it.