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I have a question regarding when/if a home should be equipped with a dual zoned ac unit.(s).
We just had a home built , we live in an area that is extremely humid in the summer months, sometimes unbearable.
Our home is approx 2900 square feet and having had a dual zoned system in our last home, we were hoping to have one in our new home.
This was not an option that the builder offered and they wouldn't do it.
Our upstairs of our new home is extremely uncomfortable already and it really isn't even Summer yet! We have closed the air vents in rooms that we don't use often to try to help the air flow,etc...
Not really seeing much of a difference.
Our question is; what square footage does one think that a dual zoned ac system should be used? We have been told our unit is sufficient for our home and basically the same old same old; the upstairs will always be warmer..
We have friends who insist that "when they build their new home" they WILL have dual zoned no matter what. Our response is; not if the builder doesn't offer it. They would have to have it installed after the completion of their home.
They insist that a builder will do it for their customer (they are having their home built by a national builder, not a custom built home).
Their current home is small (1300 sq feet or so) and they don't seem to understand that they just don't need one in their current home and that a builder isn't just going to do whatever you want them to do...
Should a builder install a dual zone in a home over a certain square footage or at least offer it as an option to their customers?
I have never heard of a builder not doing it if the customer requested it (for an additional cost). Where I live, it's pretty standard. Sounds like you got a shoddy builder. Two story homes most certainly need two zones.
I have never heard of a builder not doing it if the customer requested it (for an additional cost). Where I live, it's pretty standard. Sounds like you got a shoddy builder. Two story homes most certainly need two zones.
Actually, they are a national builder (not that it doesn't make them cheap) but they are pretty reputable. They said "no" , that they won't do it for our model and as I stated,it is a 2800 sq ft home. So not small, not huge,but certainly not small.
The next model up they would do.
Then they aren't good builders, national or not. If they won't do what their customer has asked for, they are cutting corners. Your square footage certainly warrants dual zones.
I have a question regarding when/if a home should be equipped with a dual zoned ac unit.(s).
We just had a home built , we live in an area that is extremely humid in the summer months, sometimes unbearable.
Our home is approx 2900 square feet and having had a dual zoned system in our last home, we were hoping to have one in our new home.
This was not an option that the builder offered and they wouldn't do it.
Our upstairs of our new home is extremely uncomfortable already and it really isn't even Summer yet! We have closed the air vents in rooms that we don't use often to try to help the air flow,etc...
Not really seeing much of a difference.
Our question is; what square footage does one think that a dual zoned ac system should be used? We have been told our unit is sufficient for our home and basically the same old same old; the upstairs will always be warmer..
We have friends who insist that "when they build their new home" they WILL have dual zoned no matter what. Our response is; not if the builder doesn't offer it. They would have to have it installed after the completion of their home.
They insist that a builder will do it for their customer (they are having their home built by a national builder, not a custom built home).
Their current home is small (1300 sq feet or so) and they don't seem to understand that they just don't need one in their current home and that a builder isn't just going to do whatever you want them to do...
Should a builder install a dual zone in a home over a certain square footage or at least offer it as an option to their customers?
It depends upon the BTU rating of your airconditioning unit.
I live in a 3400 sq foot single story 5 BR with a bedroom upstairs (12 foot ceilings) in Northern FL and it is hot here- hence the choice of single story versus 2 story house. We have a bonus room but it has a dedicated AC unit. It stays coo even though it is set at 77 degrees.
At 2,800 SF, 2 zones are almost necessary just based on the available unit sizes. You didn't mention where you live, but in most areas, you're going to see around 1 ton of cooling per 500 sf, give or take (Our 2,400 SF house in GA has two 2.5 ton units, as an example). That would put your house at 5-6 tons, and most companies don't make residential units larger than 5 tons. Of course, the reason your builder only did one zone is because it's less expensive to put in one larger system than two smaller systems, but you're going to pay the price in lower comfort levels and higher utility bills (which you're finding out now).
Anytime you have split living spaces, such as upstairs and downstairs you need dual zones accordingly. Its not really based on square footage. The zones are split due to the 2 different heat loads you will have. 1) The upstairs-hot roof load. 2) Downstairs which tends to be cooler.
The only way to solve your 1 zone a.c. problem is to move the thermostat to the 2nd floor. Then close down on the dampers on the ground floor because its going to get to cool.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Not all builders will accommodate changes to their building plans. Even minor cosmetic things. Reason being is it cost them money to alter existing plans. It's different if you have a custom or semi custom builder however all large builders have preset options to choose from. If it's outside that scope, they will need to redesign the plans and have them approved and the whole process cost big bucks. Some might find it silly since the customer is willing to pay however if it starts down that path, where will it end?
I had the hardest time trying to get our builder just to use a different boxed column that was completely cosmetic. I cannot imagine the difficulty in having a second HVAC system put in the attic. There would be huge structural changes to support the added weight.
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