Zoning divides one HVAC system into multiple independently controlled temperature zones. Motorized dampers inside the ductwork open and close to direct conditioned air only to the zone calling for it, controlled by zone-specific thermostats.
Common configurations: upstairs/downstairs in two-story homes; living areas vs bedrooms; front of house vs back of house. Each zone has its own thermostat and the system responds to whichever zone is calling.
Zoning is most effective with variable-speed equipment that can modulate airflow to match a single-zone call. Single-stage equipment + zoning can create static pressure problems if not engineered correctly.
An alternative to zoning a central system is using ductless mini-splits for problem rooms — each mini-split head is inherently its own zone.
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