Automatic Zoning Equals Automatic Savings

Posted on August 16, 2021 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

As technology progresses towards robots and flying cars, it has made a few impactful technological home breakthroughs along its journey. HVAC systems have become more advanced, smart, and convenient, ultimately making your life easier. Continue reading our blog to learn about automatic zoning technology.

The Smart Home Rises

Automatic zoning allows a homeowner to control the temperature in each living space or zone in their home. No longer will thermostats read the temperature in the middle of the home, leaving the second story warm and the basement feeling cold, like they have in the past. With automatic zoning, the ductwork controls airflow for each zone, not the whole house, allowing temperatures to be customized. The control panel in the HVAC system receives the temperature from your smartphone or other device and sends the information to the thermostat, changing the temperature instantly.

Benefits of Automatic Zoning

• Zoning makes it possible to regulate temperatures in all rooms of your house, allowing you to save money by keeping rooms you use less often at a warmer temperature.
• Manufacturers have created a smart thermostat that syncs with your Wi-Fi. This technology allows you to adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere.
• HVAC systems are likely to experience less wear if you install a zoning system. Your HVAC unit will rarely run at full capacity when some rooms are requiring less heating or cooling from lack of use.
• Add-on features can be installed when you choose to have automatic zoning such as an air cleaner and a humidifier.

The benefits of automatic zoning are countless. WestAIR can create a comfortable atmosphere for any room in your home. Save on energy bills by installing energy efficient zoning. This smart technology is something we are happy to discuss further with you. Contact us today.

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Energy Savings and tagged Automatic zoning, HVAC System, Smart home, Smart Technology, WestAIR

Winter Energy-Saving Tips

Posted on November 8, 2019 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

It’s the season of heavy snow, biting wind, and frosty windows. In the freezing temperatures, you may notice your energy bills spike as you try to heat your home. WestAIR is here to help. Follow our winter energy-saving tips to keep cozy:

1. Insulate your windows with heavy curtains. Keep the curtains closed at night and open in the day for free solar heating.
2. If the warmth in your home sneaks away the moment the furnace cycles off, you may be losing heat through drafty windows. Use caulk, weather stripping, or draft stoppers to seal leaks around doors and windows.
3. Seal air leaks in plumbing penetrations, gaps around the chimney, recessed lights, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Insulate the attic or crawl space and other areas of the home according to recommendations for your region.
4. Reverse ceiling fans so they run clockwise. Hot air rises, so the fans will push the warm air back down to you. Running them in the winter can save up to ten percent in energy costs.
5. Move furniture and other items away from vents so the heat can travel from the ductwork to your rooms.
6. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, keep the damper closed when it’s not in use so the warm air doesn’t escape out the chimney.
7. Change filters. Dirty, clogged filters make your heating system work harder, which puts stress on your equipment and increases energy bills.
8. Avoid using exhaust fans, which will suck out the warm air.
9. Recycle oven heat. When you finish baking something and turn the oven off, leave the door open to warm the kitchen.
10. Install a whole house humidifier to combat the dry air. Relative humidity makes your home feel warmer at lower temperatures, so you can turn the thermostat down and still feel comfortable.
11. Turn the thermostat down when you sleep and when you leave, but no more than five degrees. Your furnace may spend more energy starting up again than it does keeping the home within a steady temperature range.
12. Invest in a programmable thermostat, so it can adjust the temperatures for you. According to Minnesota Energy Resources, you could save up to $180 dollars a year just by upgrading this simple accessory.
13. Don’t heat unnecessary spaces. Learn how you can control where the heat goes in your home with automatic zoning.
14. Schedule service for your heating system.

WestAIR is committed to keeping your home warm this winter. We understand the stress that Minnesota winters place on your heating system and pocketbook. Check out our Heating 101 guide for more seasonal HVAC tips.

Contact us for more information.

This entry was posted in Energy Savings,Heating,Tips and tagged Automatic zoning, Energy efficiency, Energy-saving tips, Heating, Heating 101, HVAC, HVAC tips, Indoor air quality, Save money, Seasonal hvac tips, Thermostat, Whole house humidifier, Winter

What is Automatic Zoning?

Posted on August 23, 2018 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Artificial Intelligence. Self-Driving cars. Virtual Assistants. Every day, advancements in technology amaze and inspire us to automate and simplify our lives. So, what’s stopping you from getting smart with your HVAC system?

Home Automation

Automatic zoning or smart zoning, a category of smart home technology, allows you to control the temperature of each living space or zone in your home. Your bedroom or living room are primary zones that most people like to set to different temperatures. The issue? Older thermostats read the temperature in the middle of the home. Basements end up feeling cooler while second story rooms become warmer. Automatic zoning uses motorized dampers inside your ductwork that control the airflow to each zone. Select a zone and set a comfortable temperature using your smartphone or other device. The control panel in your HVAC system receives the information from your thermostat to adjust the dampers and temperature to your desired settings. It’s that simple!

New Technology

Zoning your HVAC system is not necessarily new technology but monitoring your setting from a device is. In the past, homeowners installed multiple thermostats or HVAC units to control these systems. Now you can regulate the temperature through one system in one location without ever touching a thermostat. If a room is not in use, automatic zoning reroutes the air to save energy. You can control all these settings with your phone, online, or right on the thermostat. Manufacturers create smart thermostats to sync with your Wi-Fi and easily customize to your lifestyle. Adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere!

Add-on Features

When you install automatic zoning, you can add more features to your heating and cooling system, too.

Fresh Air Intake
Bring fresh air into your home while using your heating or cooling unit.

Air Cleaner
Install an air cleaner to remove pollutants such as dust, pollen, and contaminants throughout the home.

Humidifier
Add a humidifier to make cold seasons more comfortable while preserving your home. Dry air cracks and warps the woodwork and building materials.

WestAIR can create a comfortable atmosphere for any room in your home. Save on energy bills by installing energy efficient automatic zoning. Contact us today to learn more.

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Furnace,Heating,Indoor Air Quality and tagged Air cleaner, Automatic zoning, Basement, Bedroom, Damper, Ductwork, Energy efficiency, Fresh air intake, Heating and cooling, Home automation, Humidifier, HVAC zoning, Living room, Smart home, Smart thermostat, Smart zoning, Thermostat