HVAC Zoning: Heat and Cool Rooms Separately
Zoning splits a home into areas that each have their own thermostat, so an upstairs bedroom and a downstairs living room are not stuck at one setting. We zone homes two ways: dampers in your ductwork, or a multi-zone ductless system.
Two Approaches
Ducted Zoning or Multi-Zone Ductless
Ducted zoning
Motorized dampers in the ductwork open and close for each zone, all run by one furnace, AC or heat pump.
Multi-zone ductless
One outdoor unit feeds two to five indoor units, each with its own control. Ideal when there is no ductwork.
Mini-split installationRecent Project
Carrier Infinity 2-Zone System in Oakland
We installed a two-zone Carrier Infinity modulating system in an Oakland home, so each zone holds its own temperature from one system. Details are on our AC installation page.
Good Fits
Homes That Benefit Most From Zoning
- Two-story homes where upstairs runs hot and downstairs runs cold
- Homes with an addition or converted garage on the same system
- Rooms used at different times, such as a home office or guest room
- Homes without ductwork, where a multi-zone mini-split adds control room by room
How It Works
What a Zoned System Includes
A thermostat per zone
Each zone has its own thermostat or indoor unit control, so each area holds its own setting.
A zone controller or outdoor unit
Ducted systems use a controller that opens and closes dampers; ductless systems run every indoor unit from one outdoor unit.
Equipment that can modulate
Variable-speed equipment, such as the Carrier Infinity system in our Oakland project, adjusts output to how many zones are calling.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my existing system be zoned?
Often, yes. Ducted zoning adds dampers and a zone controller to your existing ductwork. We check the ductwork and the equipment at the estimate and confirm in the written quote.
What is the difference between single-zone and multi-zone mini-splits?
A single-zone mini-split has one indoor unit for one space. A multi-zone system runs two to five indoor units from one outdoor unit, each controlled separately.
Does zoning save energy?
Zoning lets you heat or cool only the areas in use instead of the whole house at one setting. How much it saves depends on how the home is used.
How many zones can a home have?
Multi-zone ductless systems run two to five indoor units from one outdoor unit. Ducted zoning depends on the duct layout, which we check at the estimate.
Get a Zoning Estimate
Book an in-home assessment and get a written quote for a zoned system.