HVAC Question

[Zod]

Our HVAC is blowing downstairs only. Hardly any air is coming out upstairs. I went in the attic and could not find any ducts that could have been crushed by boxes and such. Its the same with just the fan on and not the furnace.

 

What could be causing that?

[thefuzz]

Is it duel zone?

 

 

[Inimicus]

Our (70s vintage) system has a damper system in that has to be manually switched that directs hot air to the lower floor in the cold months and cool air upstairs in the hot months.

 

I know newer systems that are not true dual zone systems can have powered dampers that automatically do the same thing.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Dampener is teh busted.

[Big A]

Assuming you have just one air handler for both floors, then the only thing would be an electronic damper not opening, if it were the standard damper used to balance system, those should not have moved if nothing came in contact with them, although it could have loosened and closed on its own but I have never seen it happen. Do you have a second zone upstairs that is controlled by a remote thermostat or señor where you can independently adjust the second floor to a different setting? If so, then you have at least one electronic damper that is sitting closed at rest and is not get power or signal to controller.

Now if you do find an electronic damper not opening, it basically will open when it gets 24vac from a controller board that relays power from a 24vac adapter that probably looks like the one used to power house alarms, if you can use a multimeter, you can find out if it's the adapter or board. If it's the adapter, you can pic another up at radio shak for like $15 and it's just connecting two wires.

[Big A]

Our (70s vintage) system has a damper system in that has to be manually switched that directs hot air to the lower floor in the cold months and cool air upstairs in the hot months.

I know newer systems that are not true dual zone systems can have powered dampers that automatically do the same thing.

I think you thinking of multi speed air handler or dual speed compressor where to save electricity, it has a lower speed it can run compressor and up to 3 speeds on handler when it's calling for a small load such as the 2- 3 degree change when maintaining a temperature. There are no dual zone air handlers, the 2-8 zones are achieved with power dampeners, temp sensors or thermostats in each zone, and separate control board, I have my first floor divided into 5 zones an each room has it's own thermostat so every room can be a different temperature, but it's still a single multi speed Trane air handler driving everything, not a special model or anything. They do have dual zone systems where two air handlers use the same condenser, but I've only seen that on the ductless wall mount units that cover just one room.

[Inimicus]

I think you thinking of multi speed air handler or dual speed compressor where to save electricity, it has a lower speed it can run compressor and up to 3 speeds on handler when it's calling for a small load such as the 2- 3 degree change when maintaining a temperature. There are no dual zone air handlers, the 2-8 zones are achieved with power dampeners, temp sensors or thermostats in each zone, and separate control board, I have my first floor divided into 5 zones an each room has it's own thermostat so every room can be a different temperature, but it's still a single multi speed Trane air handler driving everything, not a special model or anything. They do have dual zone systems where two air handlers use the same condenser, but I've only seen that on the ductless wall mount units that cover just one room.

 

No you materialistic waste of human tissue I'm not talking about either multi-speed handlers or muliti-speed compressors.  I'm talking about exactly what I am talking about.  Zoned systems that use either manual dampers or automatic dampers to allow for different temperatures in different parts of a home.  eg:http://zonefirst.com/

 

 

 

 

Now please go find some rock to crawl under where you can suffocate yourself with a dildo and cease to be a drain on the human race.

 

[Big A]

No you materialistic waste of human tissue I'm not talking about either multi-speed handlers or muliti-speed compressors. I'm talking about exactly what I am talking about. Zoned systems that use either manual dampers or automatic dampers to allow for different temperatures in different parts of a home. eg:http://zonefirst.com/

Now please go find some rock to crawl under where you can suffocate yourself with a dildo and cease to be a drain on the human race.

Well thanks for repeating exactly what I said.

YOU SAID:

I know newer systems that are not true dual zone systems can have powered dampers that automatically do the same thing.

So basically your saying there are the systems I described as multizone systems that can be as little as two zones made from power dampers and measuring equipment ( thermostats or sensors) and control board. Ok agree so far and your reposting same seems you agree with that part.

So above is the type I described and you just repeated, but you also said those "ARE NOT TRUE DUAL SYSTEMS". So my post was about these unknown TRUE DUAL ZONE SYSTEMS, that are not like the one using power damper and other equipment since you pointed out they ARE NOT the same or using same things.

I was only pointing out that a "true dual system" is not part of normal HVAC nomenclature since you can have a single system that with the additional equipment I mention and you repeated can be made into a MULTI ZONE system. Now of the multi zone systems, you can used one with only two zones and make it just a Dual zone system, but I have never seen a multizone system limited to just two zones and called a "true Dual zone system". I thought maybe you misunderstood the terminology given your system being so incredibly antiquated. My apologies, I thought since your system is 4 times past it's normal life span, you may be in the market for a new system soon so I was trying to be nice enough to explain the differences,

[cookinbrak]

If you have 2 thermostats, check the batteries in the upstairs one. Might not be calling for air.

[SmokinwithWilly]

Sounds crazy but check the vents to make sure they haven't been stuffed with something. Worked on a rental house and we couldn't figure out what was going on because everything else seemed to be in working order. Turns out the kids put stuffed animals in the vents so they had their own caves to hide in. Of course it only took 3 hours to figure it out at the time...