From: John Davies 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Zone ducting in a multi-story house
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 14:24:05 -0700

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with this?

The contractor who is going to install the HVAC systems in my new home
says a three-zone system with seperate thermostats will cure the "cold
basement, hot upstairs" syndrome so common to many homes. Cost is
close to $3000.

In summer the hot upstairs bonus room can call for more cooling and
the dampers will close off the main and lower floors and pump all the
cool air upstairs until the upper stat is satisfied. The reverse
occurs in winter when it's too cold downstairs - the upper zones
airflow shuts down leaving the furnace to heat just the lower areas.

It sounds good and will save energy costs in the long run, but I need
to know if it is worth the expense. We will be using the upstairs 600
sq ft bonus room regularly as an office, and the unfinished basement
will eventually have two bedrooms and a family room. All other rooms
are on the main floor.

Comments welcome.

John Davies
Spokane WA