What is an HVAC Zoning System?

Ever notice how the second story of your home is always stifling, while the first floor is practically Arctic all year round? That’s not a coincidence. Homes often have hot and cold spots—places where the angle of the sun, the physics of heat, and the home design all sync up to cause temperature fluctuations from room to room.

Inconsistencies like these are why HVAC zoning systems were created. With zoned heating and air conditioning, instead of one temperature setting for the whole house, the building is divided into two or more “zones,” each with its own set of controls and programming. It can help you split the difference in homes with hot and cold spots, multiple floors, or just iron out different temperature preferences among family members. Multi-zone heating and cooling systems have many benefits—energy efficiency among them—but they’re slightly different than your average furnace, heat pump, or AC. Here’s what makes them so special.