5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Dual-Zone Thermostat Settings
Having a thermostat in your home can create a lot of convenience and flexibility when it comes to controlling the temperature. This is especially true when you have a multi-level home and a dual-zone heating and cooling system. Sectioning your home into zones allows your family members the option of heating and cooling their zones to fit their specific needs.
With the right heating and cooling unit, as well as the right thermostat, heating and cooling your home can be easier than ever. Entek can provide you with the perfect thermostat setup to fit your home’s needs and create zones that work best for you and your family. Once your dual-zone thermostat is set up, you can completely customize your experience. And as you learn more about your preferences and how the system works, you can benefit even more from your system.
Understanding the settings and using them correctly is just the beginning. Here are a few tips that can help you get the most out of using your dual-zone thermostat settings.
1) Don’t Set Both to the Same Temperature
Not everyone gets dual-zone thermostats to combat their family’s varying temperature preferences. For most people, it’s to heat their multi-leveled home. You’d think that it would be as simple as making each floor be set to your preferred temperature, but that can sometimes have the opposite effect.
The upstairs portion of your home is typically warmer than downstairs, and that happens naturally. Because of this, each floor or zone should be set to work in conjunction, going off of the way they are naturally. Having both set to the same temperature will cause the floors to be constantly battling to maintain their temperatures. This constant use will cause your bills to increase unnecessarily. So it’s best to not have them both be set to your desired temperature and instead make temperature adjustments as the seasons change.
2) Remember That Heat Rises
During the winter months, you probably won’t mind that your home gets a little hotter the higher you go. The attic might end up being a safe haven to your family then. But when summer hits, having hot second and third floors is uncomfortable. Having both of your thermostats set at the same temperature isn’t the answer, but they also don’t have to be 10 degrees apart.
Keep in mind that heat rises, and as it rises, it pushes the colder air back down to your lower floors. This can work in your favor if your dual-zone thermostat settings are set correctly. Setting your upstairs zone thermostat to the temperature you desire and setting your downstairs thermostat to just a few degrees warmer can make all the difference in the summer. The two zones can work together, as the cool air from upstairs will fall to your lower zone and create a comfortable temperature for both areas.
3) Take Advantage of Your Wi-Fi
If you change your thermostat settings regularly, it may cause you discomfort when you forget to set it correctly before leaving the house. Worrying about your home being heated correctly is normal, but there is a way to avoid that stress. You can eliminate this issue by utilizing your thermostat’s Wi-Fi-settings. This will give you access to your home temperature from wherever you are, so long as you have a Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device, computer, or tablet.
This is a feature that can help you to feel even more in control of your ability to get the most out of your thermostat settings. It can also help you tremendously if you’re worried about keeping your bills lower. A Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat is an asset to you and your home, and if your dual-zone thermostat has Wi-Fi technology, you should take advantage of it.
4) Program It to Fit Your Needs
A programmable thermostat can be a game-changer if you like your home’s temperature to adjust throughout the day. It can help lower your monthly bills and also increase the efficiency of your unit by not overusing it when it’s not needed. With this option, you can lower the temperature in your home at night while you’re sleeping or during the workday when no one is home. Then you can set your thermostat to slowly return to your desired temperature by the time you wake up or come home. Using this setting ensures you never feel a moment of discomfort, while also not overworking your heating and cooling unit.
Using your programmable thermostat settings is also perfect for when you go out of town. When you’re not comfortable heating your home normally while you’re away but also don’t want to neglect it completely, a programmable dual-zone thermostat can be the answer to your problems. With this option, your thermostat can keep track of the days you’re away and keep your home at a slightly warmer or cooler temperature than you normally would. You can also manage the controls with your Wi-Fi settings if you forget to program it correctly before you leave.
5) Check Your Home for Air Leaks
When your home has the option for dual-zone thermostat settings, you’re in the best position to enjoy your desired temperature wherever you are in the house. But even the best heating and cooling unit will fail if the air is able to escape before reaching its final destination. Having air leaks will cause your unit to work harder, costing you more money and leading you to change the settings on your thermostat more often. In order for your dual-zone thermostat to work up to its full potential, you’ll need to make sure there are no leaks in your ducts or in your home.
Air can escape through leaky ducts or from insufficient insulation in your attic or basement. When you suspect that air is escaping your home or that your ducts are experiencing a leak, it’s best to call a professional like Entek to address the issue. They’ll be able to quickly assess the air flow in your home and then address any issues they find. You might find all you need is a little more insulation or duct sealing with a product like Aeroseal simply eliminates the problem. And the faster you involve professional help, the faster you can go back to enjoying your perfect temperature setting.
