If you are experiencing the dreaded cold spots in your home this winter, call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC to help you find out why.
One of the main reasons an HVAC technician is called out to a home is because one room or entire floor in the home is considerably colder than the rest of the house. This is a typical problem for a home that has two or more levels and is dependent on one central furnace to heat the entire house.
The Placement of the Thermostat
The first thing the technician will look for is the placement of the thermostat. Usually it is on the main floor and should be centrally located. The trouble is, once that area reaches the set temperature, the furnace shuts off, regardless of the temperatures in the other rooms or on other floors. This is the main reason why it is never a good idea to place the thermostat close to any heat sources, like a kitchen, or drafty areas, like near the front door. This will cause the thermostat to read a temperature that is not consistent with the rest of the house.
Haven’t you ever noticed that when you have a lot of guests in the home the temperature rises quickly? You know that this is from the heat generated by the people and so you adjust the thermostat down. After everyone has left, you enter your bedroom only to find it freezing. This is because the thermostat was only reading the temperature of the air surrounding it. A single system thermostat cannot react to the temperatures of other rooms.
How a Zoning System Works
The easiest and most efficient solution to this problem in your home is to have a zoning system installed. Basically, a zoning system relies on multiple thermometers all connected to the one furnace and run by your thermostat. Electronic dampers are installed inside the existing duct work of your HVAC system allowing them to be open and closed as needed. The areas controlled by each zone are usually dependent on the square footage, so it is a good idea to have an HVAC technician do an evaluation on your home first to determine if a zoning system will work for you.
Saving Money Year Round
Once installed you will notice a dramatic savings in your monthly utility consumption. A zoning system will allow you to completely restrict air flow to portions of the home never used, saving you hundreds of dollars a year in heating and cooling costs. A zoning system will also work with your central air conditioning in the summer. Depending on the size of your home, you can actually transform your single heating and cooling systems into a multiple one without having to add a second furnace or air conditioner. Keeping it working efficiently is as simple as setting up your yearly maintenance visit.
If there is no noticeable malfunction with your furnace or blockage in the duct work, then the simple installation of a zoning system just might be the answer. The savings it will give you will more then cover the cost. Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 for a free consultation.
Photo credit: Lars Ploughmann