Buying a new furnace is a bit more complicated than choosing your next smartphone. There are quite a few things you need to consider before making a conclusion. One of the considerations you need to make is to choose between a central and a zoned HVAC system.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your preferred HVAC company in Minnetonka MN. We are leaders in providing superb heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products and services to residences and businesses alike.
What’s the Difference?
A central HVAC system is a combination of indoor and outdoor units. The furnace is usually located in the basement or garage, while the air conditioner’s condenser unit is positioned outside the home to cool the refrigerant, which cools the air inside the evaporator located in the indoor unit.
The largest part of these types of systems is the ductwork. Metal ducts run through each room of the home and use a series of vents to either heat or cool different areas.
A central heating system delivers heated or cold air to every room as long as the system is running. You can close the supply vent to a specific room if you don’t want that room to receive forced air.
In a zoned HVAC unit, each supply vent is controlled by an electronic damper. The furnace or air conditioner still sends air through the ducts in the same way, but a zoned system checks which rooms will receive that air at any given time. If a certain room requires heat, the system opens the dampers to that room and allows warm air to get in. If that zone does not need heat while the system is running, the dampers are closed to the rooms in the zone and block the air from entering.
Central vs. Zoned HVAC Systems: Advantages and Disadvantages
A central HVAC system is great if you want uniform temperature settings in all areas of your home, which is great in terms of overall comfort.
It also offers improved aesthetics. With a few air vents, a central HVAC system is more low-key than a zoned unit. The ductwork is usually located in the attic or the back of closets, and the air handler is typically positioned in the garage or basement. The system is almost out of sight.
However, owning a central heating system means dealing with regular maintenance requirements to make sure the unit works effortlessly. When a system does not get regular maintenance, it can exhibit problems, including inconsistent heating. You will notice that some rooms are warmer than others. If you have a gas-fired unit, it also runs the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if the heat exchanger cracks due to overheating.
Having a zoned HVAC system means no more heating and cooling of unused zones, which rids you of wasted energy. You can choose to turn off heating or cooling in unused areas and only turn it on when needed. Not only does this system help you save money on energy, but it also helps your maintenance costs.
Moreover, you can now say goodbye to thermostat wars in your home, thanks to individual thermostats provided for each zone. Now, everyone in the house can have their preferred temperatures and enjoy their personal space.
Zoned HVAC systems are not without disadvantages. Installing one into a new home includes high front costs. Why? Because the system uses more equipment than a conventional one. It also requires more intricate ductwork to be set up. It’s also more expensive to convert your existing central system into a zoned unit.
Another drawback of having a zoned HVAC system is that it is prone to failure. Since it has more moving parts, it has a higher likelihood of experiencing more breakdowns than a traditional or central HVAC system. What this means is that it makes it more difficult to troubleshoot problems, and more part replacements to think about.
Need Help Deciding? Call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
To get professional, no non-sense advice, give us a call. As a leading Edina heating and air conditioning company, we are serious about helping homeowners make informed decisions.