Ductwork question

[LabLuvR]

We are replacing our heatpump and air handler system. We have a room downstairs that is served by the heatpump which handles the upstairs main area as well. I would like to have some type of damper/valve put in the ductwork at the air handler to shut off air flow to the downstairs. We rarely use the room and it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep it as it is now. Is there something available? Thanks!

[sktn77a]

Yes, there are dampers that can be put into the ductwork to do what you wish, if your ductwork doesn't already have them. If this room is small (less than about 15% of the total supply) you should be able to close it off. Closing off more than this may produce problems (eg increasing static pressure at the furnace). Ask you installer about this when they measure up the job.

[LabLuvR]

What are the negative effects of increased static pressure? The room downstairs is about the same size as the upstairs portion. We are adding a return down there, as presently the only return is upstairs. Thanks!

[Todd S 2]

You can zone you home. That is where you'll have a thermostat on both levels controling the dampers for heating/cooling the spaces seperately.

[beshvac]

What are the negative effects of increased static pressure? The room downstairs is about the same size as the upstairs portion. We are adding a return down there, as presently the only return is upstairs. Thanks!

The negative affects are damage to the compressor.

[jovusun]

Look into a 2 zone system. Honeywell, AprilAire and others make good ones...they don't just shut the air off to the area you don't want to heat or cool at the moment...that's bad for the system. It reroutes the excess air back to the return so that you don't have high static pressure. Each zone has it's own thermostat.