What type of service I really need!?

[wisepole]

Thanks, it's a good point. I didn't know as HO that duct work is different for heating and cooling. As such, in modern homes are there 2 ducts? 1 for heating and 1 for cooling? OR, it's a compromise between the two.

[timebuilder]

I agree, unfortunately it seems that how the HVAC system works. You need 1 person for furnace, 1 person for duct work and (maybe) yet another one for any electrical work. I finally got hold of the guy I was mentioning earlier and he stated when he does tune-up services he can't tune the system till he reviews the air flow across the registers and thus he'll take measurements first running the system full throttle and then adjust accordingly. Post adjustments, he'll take measurements again and based on condition of the duct work, design, etc. he'll either certify all's good or give further recommendations. He's absolutely positive the duct work in my house is correctly designed since as per him he knows the place and told me these are the cookie cutter houses built post war and has the classic approved design for duct work. In all probability either a register's gone bad (i.e. clogged) or a damper's gone bad, etc....as such he feels there's absolutely no need to do any manual J, D, analysis.

Tell you what. If you are convinced he is right, try it.

If he was wrong, then you can take our advice.

I seriously doubt that a ductwork design from the 60's for heat only is good enough for correct heating and cooling today.

[simplyrollin]

It seems like you need a zone system, however, it may be very difficult and expensive due to the fact the house is already built and I'm assuming most of the ducting is behind the walls.

[wisepole]

You're very correct. There was 1 very very good service guy whose contact I lost. He suggested zone system and also stated that there are certain dampers which just slide into the registers and thus no re-work of ducts / breaking down walls are required. He categorically told me it's not the same thing but almost there, etc.

[wisepole]

I have a very small house and all the main duct supplying heat/cool runs via a central channel straight up feeding the 2 rooms either side and then upstairs. Effectively, if I can break down the wall encompassing this duct system and re-do it I can achieve my objective. However, the returns are a different beast altogether. Somehow they form a cyclic form. In other words they aren't directly above one other between 2 floor and in fact someone took a lot of effort to specifically run them some distance where they could have gone just straight up. I gather it's all part of the now famous (for me) manual J,D,S calculations!
So my question is: if I am to go zonal, would that mean re-working my returns too? Also as heat rises and being a townhouse should I be having some sort of door at the top of the stairs (from 1st. floor to 2nd) to prevent heat escaping when only 1st. floor is being heated?