[Drivetime]

While talking to contractors/installers about replacing my 23 yr old furnace and ac, I've been mentioning uneven temps in the house most often in two cathedral ceiling rooms. There's also a 2 story foyer in the equation as well. The second floor northeast BR is also harder to heat and cool even though it has a standard ceiling. The MBR has the higher ceiling and temp is always a contrast to other areas of the house.

Most contractors have tried to sell me on a variable speed furnace to alleviate some of the problem (see my other post). But one reputable guy who's a veteran of the business but who works by himself now, and does his own sheetmetal fabrication, suggested I consider adding a new trunk line in the basement off the furnace with a damper to zone the second floor, and adding an additional t-stat for the second floor.

I'm intriguied with the concept and am considering it as part of the new system install. But will it make that much of a difference? Will I regret anything? And what special issues should I insist be addressed before I authorize such a job?

I am going to have more insulation blown in this spring in conjunction with an energy audit to find heat loss areas that can be improved. But that's later, furnace/ac project is now before season changes and schedules fill up. I don't think it's likely that anything I do to followup on the audit would change the envelope so significantly that it would affect the system design, right/wrong, just improve on insulation?

 

[classical]

While talking to contractors/installers about replacing my 23 yr old furnace and ac, I've been mentioning uneven temps in the house most often in two cathedral ceiling rooms. There's also a 2 story foyer in the equation as well. The second floor northeast BR is also harder to heat and cool even though it has a standard ceiling. The MBR has the higher ceiling and temp is always a contrast to other areas of the house.

Most contractors have tried to sell me on a variable speed furnace to alleviate some of the problem (see my other post). But one reputable guy who's a veteran of the business but who works by himself now, and does his own sheetmetal fabrication, suggested I consider adding a new trunk line in the basement off the furnace with a damper to zone the second floor, and adding an additional t-stat for the second floor.

I'm intriguied with the concept and am considering it as part of the new system install. But will it make that much of a difference? Will I regret anything? And what special issues should I insist be addressed before I authorize such a job?

I am going to have more insulation blown in this spring in conjunction with an energy audit to find heat loss areas that can be improved. But that's later, furnace/ac project is now before season changes and schedules fill up. I don't think it's likely that anything I do to followup on the audit would change the envelope so significantly that it would affect the system design, right/wrong, just improve on insulation?

Get the audit done first the more you know the better off you are.

 

[George2]

While talking to contractors/installers about replacing my 23 yr old furnace and ac, I've been mentioning uneven temps in the house most often in two cathedral ceiling rooms. There's also a 2 story foyer in the equation as well. The second floor northeast BR is also harder to heat and cool even though it has a standard ceiling. The MBR has the higher ceiling and temp is always a contrast to other areas of the house.

Most contractors have tried to sell me on a variable speed furnace to alleviate some of the problem (see my other post). But one reputable guy who's a veteran of the business but who works by himself now, and does his own sheetmetal fabrication, suggested I consider adding a new trunk line in the basement off the furnace with a damper to zone the second floor, and adding an additional t-stat for the second floor.

I'm intriguied with the concept and am considering it as part of the new system install. But will it make that much of a difference? Will I regret anything? And what special issues should I insist be addressed before I authorize such a job?

I am going to have more insulation blown in this spring in conjunction with an energy audit to find heat loss areas that can be improved. But that's later, furnace/ac project is now before season changes and schedules fill up. I don't think it's likely that anything I do to followup on the audit would change the envelope so significantly that it would affect the system design, right/wrong, just improve on insulation?

It sounds like the 2nd floor registers are in the floor now and he wants to put them all in the ceiling?

Is all the ductwork exposed in the basement?

I like his thinking about the duct going from the plenum to the 2nd fl. and zoning. I need more information as to how he plans to run the duct between the floors.

Pictures of what you have would be wonderful.

 

[Drivetime]

George2, no, he simply is proposing to add a new trunk line out of the furnace and connect all the runs goiing to the second fllor to that new line. No new ductwork or registers are in his proposal--only one new trunk, damper regulating air flow between first floor and seconf floor trunk lines, disconnecting second floor runs from the original trunk and connecting them to the new line dedicated to the second floor and adding a separate t-stat for the upstairs zone leaving the existing t-stat to regulate only the first floor. He's a one-man operation who does his own metal fabricating. If I accepted his proposal I would have him replace my furnace and aac at the same time. Frankly, I'm not leaning in that (zoning) direction.

 

[George2]

George2, no, he simply is proposing to add a new trunk line out of the furnace and connect all the runs goiing to the second fllor to that new line. No new ductwork or registers are in his proposal--only one new trunk, damper regulating air flow between first floor and seconf floor trunk lines, disconnecting second floor runs from the original trunk and connecting them to the new line dedicated to the second floor and adding a separate t-stat for the upstairs zone leaving the existing t-stat to regulate only the first floor. He's a one-man operation who does his own metal fabricating. If I accepted his proposal I would have him replace my furnace and aac at the same time. Frankly, I'm not leaning in that (zoning) direction.

Okay, now I see what he has in mind. It's a very good idea at that.

You could do the ductwork modification first (it might be all you need) and add the zoning later, if needed.

I'm sure he'll install manual volume dampers so you can adjust the airflow between the floor more easily.

 

[westval]

drivetime,

I like the way he thinks. Variable speed and capacity could help your situation but would only be a bandaid. Manual or automatic dampering to the second floor may be the true fix. Hard to tell when you can't be there to see it in person. Good quality ductwork can fix many problems. Turning vanes, radiused elbows, dampers, and accustic material are all signs of a good install or retrofit.

 

[seatonheating]

All good ideas so far!!


To add to that. Variable speed fans will help to give the desired airflow. But to where?

Without a properly sized and balanced system, this variable speed fan will surely cost you money and it will be very noisy.

I like the guy you have. He couldn't be a Seattle guy, haven't run into one here in 8 years. Well, other than myself.