The dual-zone air conditioners or heater is a collection of duct dampers and thermostats which regulate the amount of cool or hot air that each area (one or more spaces) gets during the day.
Zoning technology lets homeowners just cool/ heat the occupied portions of their living spaces at any time or adjust the temperature in various zones of their homes.
So, it’s a great solution for rooms in your home which are difficult to heat, such as the attic loft or basement.
How Much Does a Converting to Dual Zone HVAC Cost?
$2,499 to $3,499 is the ballpark figure cost for converting to a dual-zone HVAC.
PS – The figures above are quite up and low because of two parameters, first is your house’s size, and second is the whole area of application or AOA.
Costing details for HVAC Dual Zoning:
Zone cooling and heating systems comprise an outdoor unit connected via refrigerant pipes to one or several indoor units.
Indoor units come in various ways to create several zones controlled independently.
Cost Parameter #1 for HVAC Dual Zoning:
New equipment:
- Every Zoned Comfort Solution includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit(s), and controls and components like the refrigerant line set.
- In general, the latest HVAC zoned equipment can be priced from less than $3000 for a single room cooling option, at least $15,000 for multiple zones of cooling and heating.
Costing Parameter #2 for HVAC Zoning:
Installation Labor:
- We see that this is the amount you will pay the HVAC contractor to set up the system (and take down the old one in the event of need).
- Prices for labor from contractors differ greatly. However, you can anticipate the price to install zoned HVAC systems to be like the price of your equipment.
- However, it can depend on your geographical location and the extent of your installation.
Hidden costs for HVAC Zoning:
Additional costs that can incur:
- Electrical charges – Employing an accredited electrician to install the new outlet is possible.
- And which typically costs between $200 to $1000 and varies based on the location and nature of the task being completed.
- The cost will rise when your electrical panel in your home requires the installation of a new 240V power circuit.
- Get an estimate before purchasing an entirely new electrical system to avoid any surprises.
Additional costs for HVAC zoning that you might miss:
You might miss some hidden costs when estimating the pricing for HVAC zoning.
Taking all these into consideration earlier will help you.
- Equipment stands or pad – A level surface beneath the outdoor unit to ensure drainage is usually $50-$300.
- Additionally, the units can be installed on brackets. Consult your contractor on the most suitable solution to your brand-new installation
- Ductless or Ducts? When considering an indoor ducting system, it’s hard to estimate the price.
- Certain homeowners may be installing ductwork the first time, while others may be repurposing existing ductwork, which adds complexity and possibly 75 percent of the cost.
- The best recommendation is to talk with an HVAC expert who knows your home to get advice and estimates for the ductwork.
- Various factors – There are numerous choices of controllers that you can pick for Zoned Comfort Solutions.
- Which one you choose will impact the price.
- Wall-mounted heating and air conditioning units are equipped with a wireless controller for handheld use.
- If you are considering these options, the rate can vary between $200 and $300 for each controller for each zone.
Pros and Cons of a Zoned HVAC system:
The Benefits of an HVAC Zoned System:
- One HVAC unit with zones is significantly more affordable than installing multiple HVAC.
- The fact that you can turn off cooling and heating in areas that aren’t being used by people who live in the house can drastically reduce operating expenses.
- The zoned HVAC system utilizes air conditioning units with variable speed motors.
- And This implies that they consume around one-third of the energy required by conventional systems, which could reduce the energy cost by up to 30.
Restrictions on Zoned HVAC Systems:
There are limitations on how small you can limit the zones. The system can’t provide enough air to a tiny area for the equipment to run effectively.
- For instance, you may prefer to have your master bath and bedroom one zone instead of having the bath in a personal space.
- It is also essential to have a dual-stage air conditioner and an adjustable speed blower for the air handler or furnace.
- These models are more expensive than single-stage units.
- However, the higher purchase cost is usually compensated by higher efficiency and less operating expenses.
Some other questions,
Related Questions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1.) What does it cost to upgrade the HVAC dual-zone core?
Answer: Most of the equipment for HVAC zoning equipment can easily cost between $2,500 to $3,500.
And this is for a single room cooling from a branded company like Mitsubishi.
Q2.) Is the dual zoning heating worth the price?
Answer: Yes, if you want to save on money, you waste otherwise from cooling where you might not need it, and the added comfort is also nice.
Q3.) Can one add the zones to an already existing system?
Answer: Yes! Most of the new kinds of homes offer multi-system connectivity because they connect to different ductworks.
Q4.) Can your two or more thermostat zoning control for the same AC unit?
Answer: Yes, it is possible to have a single huge air-conditioner unit in the middle that can cool your house equally with more than two thermostats.
Q5.) How much should you expect to pay for installing a brand new HVAC system?
Answer: The average cost comes at around $7K, and the range varies from $5K to $10K easily.
In short, it means $20 to $50 for each square foot of area.
Q6.) What is the shelf life of most HVACs?
Answer: Around Twenty years, depending on system type and maintenance and other contributing factors.
A person from Oregon easily held his air conditioner for Forty-odd years!
Q7.) Is it possible to have a central air system in your house without any ductwork?
Answer: It will require some basic cuttings and modifications to do this type of work.
A professional will use a mini-split system as the bare minimum for an economical and less-intrusive design.
Q8.) What is a dual zoning air conditioner?
Answer: A dual-zone air conditioning system uses various thermostats and duct dampers that can regulate the cooled air properly.
Q9.) How can one set a dual-zone thermostat during the winters?
Answer: Begin by setting your temperature to the near-ideal level in winters and keep your upstairs around two degrees colder.
In summer, do the opposite and keep downstairs two degrees warmer.
Q10.) Will there be any effect on HVAC prices in 2022?
Answer: Yes, they will increase in upcoming years, and many manufacturers have already stated that.
Q11.) Can my house value increase if I install an HVAC system?
Answer: A fact is that you will be able to only negotiate for around 40% of the initial buying cost of HVACs for selling your property.
And it will just not give any upsell value in areas where there is no need for air conditioning in summers.
Q12.) Should we replace a twenty-year-old HVAC?
Answer: Yes, you can replace it with a brand-new HVAC because with their aging, they get less efficient, so get one with those energy star labels.
Q13.) Is it possible to replace just the outer AC unit?
Answer: No!
Not possible because, as per most HVAC experts, you should also simultaneously remove the indoor unit or face problems like chronic failures.
Q14.) How often should one service their HVACs?
Answer: Once a year is a bare minimum.
If you have a central AC unit, try to maintain them for a year and if it also has a heat pump, go for semi-annual servicing.
Q15.) Which is the most efficient AC, ductless or central air?
Answer: Ductless systems are more efficient because of the lower utility costs.
But the initial cost is more, and it also costs more.
Q16.) Does zone heating save money?
Answer: Yes, and that too up to THIRTY percent.
And this is as per the US Dept. of Energy.
Q17.) What is a dump zone for a zoned air system?
Answer: A dump zone is a room where a duct is without a damper and can receive the airflow.
Q18.) Can closing vents help with the cooling of the upstairs?
Answer: Yes, it can help, and for more efficiency, make sure your air-return vents have an opening, and nothing blocks them
Final Verdict:
Using just one light switch that controls all the lights within a home is a bit absurd and unpractical for any homeowner.
It does seem logical to spend money to spare rooms that aren’t being utilized. And this is also true for an HVAC system.
The concept of being able to regulate the temperature in different rooms of the house autonomously can be a great virtue.
And that too, as per the occupants’ needs and preferences, is increasingly sought-after as a method.
Lastly, enjoy some added benefits like getting everything at the comfort of your home and decreasing the cost of energy.
So, invest in an HVAC double zoning today for comfort.
Thanks For Reading!