Choosing the Right HVAC Zone Controller

We’re proud to offer an HVAC zone controller for nearly every application. To choose the right one, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. This post is a guide to those factors. It will help you choose a zone controller wisely so your customers get exactly what they want out of their zoning system.

Evaluate the equipment that you’ll be zoning

When choosing an HVAC zone controller, it’s crucial to start by assessing the existing equipment in the system. Here’s a list of options for each type of equipment.

Conventional furnace and air conditioner

As you can imagine, most of our controllers work with conventional equipment. Our HeatPumPro and AirBoss can both handle this setup well. The MPS also works as long as the equipment is single-stage. In this case, you may want to make a decision based on how the building is used.

If it’s a light commercial building, the AirBoss is a great choice because it features an all-building temperature setback that can save energy when the building is not in use. AirBoss is also equipped to handle up to 8 zones, while HeatPumPro can only zone up to 4 zones, and MPS is limited to 3.

For residential zoning applications, the HeatPumPro is the logical choice. It offers the most features, so you can give your customers a full-featured experience. HeatPumPro is also great at handling the staging for multi-stage equipment, which means the homeowners have the option to upgrade to multi-stage equipment in the future even if they don’t have it now. If price is an issue, and the equipment is single-stage, then the MPS is a great option. It’s a great way to get zoning when you need to stay inside a budget and don’t need a lot of extra features.

If you’re installing the HVAC zone controller for new construction, we recommend the MPS zone controller. MPS features a budget-friendly price, super easy installation, and – just like our other panels – a lifetime warranty.

Heat pumps, dual fuel, and all-electric systems

When you’re installing an HVAC zone controller for a heat pump system, we recommend the HeatPumPro. While all of our panels can zone heat pumps, the HeatPumPro is the best one for handling backup heat efficiently. HeatPumPro also comes with features that assist the heat pump in staging as effectively as possible.

An added bonus to installing the HeatPumPro with a heat pump is that you don’t have to install a heat pump thermostat unless you want to! HeatPumPro can interface with the heat pump with any 4 or 5 wire thermostat on the market, though you can use a heat pump thermostat on zone 1 if you choose.

Multi-stage equipment

Your best bet for multi-stage equipment to is to take advantage of our HeatPumPro and its flexibility. You can customize the HeatPumPro to stage based on temperature thresholds. You can also stage up based on which zones are calling, using the Zone Weighting feature. This gives you the flexibility to create zones that are too small for second-stage operation, because you can ensure that they won’t get second-stage.

By thoroughly evaluating your equipment and understanding the specific requirements and limitations of your HVAC system, you can make a more informed choice when selecting an HVAC zone controller.

Consider the type of building you’re zoning

The type of building where the HVAC zone controller will be used is a significant factor in its selection. Residential applications and light commercial buildings have different requirements. The size of the building may also be an important factor.

Our usual recommendation

We generally recommend the HeatPumPro for residential zoning and the AirBoss for light commercial zoning. However, you may make a different choice depending on the application. Here are the things to consider.

How is the building used?

Light commercial buildings are often empty for many hours while the business is closed. If this is the case, you may want the capability to run a temperature setback program on the whole building, which comes with the AirBoss. If your residential customer wants this ability too, you may want to consider the AirBoss for them.

Homeowners often use part of their home during the day and a different part at night. During the day, family members are likely to be in the kitchen, living room, and office. At night, everyone is in the bedrooms. Zoning is great for this usage pattern because residents can heat and cool only the areas they are using. They will save a lot of energy by not heating the kitchen at night, or cooling the bedrooms during the day. While any of our HVAC zone controllers can accomplish this setup, the HeatPumPro is especially effective because of the zone weighting feature.

By tailoring the choice of HVAC zone controller to the specific environment, you can ensure optimal performance, energy efficiency, and user satisfaction.

Identify the features your customers require

Selecting the right HVAC zone controller for your customers involves understanding the specific features they value most. Different customers have varying needs, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Instead, focus on key functionalities that cater to their specific requirements for comfort and energy efficiency.

How many zones do you need to create?

If you want to create more than 4 zones, we recommend the AirBoss, which can control up to 8 zones. Keep in mind that applications with more than 4 zones are usually light commercial buildings with a rooftop unit. These rooftop blower units are designed to handle the higher static pressure created by smaller zones. For residential applications, keep the smallest zone at least 25% of the ductwork capacity for multi-stage equipment, and 35% for single-stage equipment. That’s because tiny zones can cause issues.

Our best HVAC zone controller for 4 or fewer zones is the HeatPumPro. It has an easy-to-use setup screen and more features than the MPS or AirBoss, so it probably has what you need. However, the AirBoss is available for 4 or fewer zones, so you can choose to use it if you wish.

Finally, a simple system with only 2-3 zones could be a candidate for the MPS zone controller. MPS is our budget-friendly choice for single-stage equipment. MPS is the best choice when you don’t need all of the features of HeatPumPro or AirBoss, and you’re using single-stage equipment.

Which HVAC zone controller is the best one?

We couldn’t pick a favorite child! Still, there is definitely a best HVAC zone controller for most applications. For simple zoning jobs with 2 or 3 zones and single-stage equipment, the MPS is the best choice because of its budget-friendly price. When you want a full-featured experience, are using a heat pump, or have multi-stage equipment, the HeatPumPro is your answer. If you’re zoning a larger building that requires more than 4 zones, or if you want to use a temperature setback feature for the entire building, then the AirBoss is the best zone controller for you.

Hopefully this guide is helpful as you choose an HVAC zone controller. If we didn’t answer all of your questions, you can ask an application question here. We’re always here to help at Arzel Tech Support, too. Just give us a call at 800-611-8312. We’re available from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm, seven days a week.