Logan46
01-13-2011, 08:48 PM
When we had our house built last year, we specified separate controls for a small parent suite (421 sq ft) and master bedroom suite (511 sq ft). What was installed was a unit with 2 zones. One zone for the parent suite and 1 zone for the master bedroom suite, which also included an adjoining bedroom (145 sq ft).
The initial problem was too much air and noise in the parent suite. The HVAC installer installed a bypass(?) to reduce the air flow. The problem then was hardly any noticeable airflow in the master bedroom suite. A second service call resulted in the fan speed being increased--I still could not feel any air coming out the registers from 4 feet away (standing on a chair with 10 ft ceiling).
With our recent cold spell, our master bedroom suite and especially bathroom are cool. We normally set the thermostat back 5 degrees at night. It will take almost an hour plus of constant running to bring the Master bedroom suite up 5 degree, whereas the rest of the house (2300 sq ft) on the other unit takes 15 to 20 minutes at the most and always feels toasty.
What I don't understand is why they installed a bypass which to me just re-circulates already heated air over and over instead of putting all out into the ducts--that would seem to be very inefficient. Secondly, the unit has a Honeywell TrueZone electronic controller (?) which I thought was supposed to automatically balance the air flow to the different zones.
The furnace in question is a Lennox G40UH-36A--070 with an output of 53,000 BTUH.
I know next to nothing about HVAC but what little common sense I have tells me something is not right. Please help educate me so I can deal with the installer intelligently instead of being confrontational. Why do they sell zoned systems if they don't work? Many thanks in advance.
The initial problem was too much air and noise in the parent suite. The HVAC installer installed a bypass(?) to reduce the air flow. The problem then was hardly any noticeable airflow in the master bedroom suite. A second service call resulted in the fan speed being increased--I still could not feel any air coming out the registers from 4 feet away (standing on a chair with 10 ft ceiling).
With our recent cold spell, our master bedroom suite and especially bathroom are cool. We normally set the thermostat back 5 degrees at night. It will take almost an hour plus of constant running to bring the Master bedroom suite up 5 degree, whereas the rest of the house (2300 sq ft) on the other unit takes 15 to 20 minutes at the most and always feels toasty.
What I don't understand is why they installed a bypass which to me just re-circulates already heated air over and over instead of putting all out into the ducts--that would seem to be very inefficient. Secondly, the unit has a Honeywell TrueZone electronic controller (?) which I thought was supposed to automatically balance the air flow to the different zones.
The furnace in question is a Lennox G40UH-36A--070 with an output of 53,000 BTUH.
I know next to nothing about HVAC but what little common sense I have tells me something is not right. Please help educate me so I can deal with the installer intelligently instead of being confrontational. Why do they sell zoned systems if they don't work? Many thanks in advance.