hello, We will be upgrading our 1995 furnace eventually to a 2 stage furnace. My question is about zoning. Currently in 3 story home with single zone furnace - feeds basement, main floor and upper floor.
We have recently installed slab heating in basement with an ERV - suite isolated from rest of home and therefore have removed basement ducting.
Main floor ductwork is still accessible from basement. Would like to create two zones for future furnace and have some ideas I'd like feedback on. Small home, 700sq' per level. Plenum and trunk extends off furnace (mechanical room in basement) in one direction 10 feet. All main floor branches stub out and are routed in floor joists to their locations.
Top floor plenum is 14" x 14" that ties in to top of trunk (middle) and extends straight up to joist space between 2nd and 3rd floor. From there it is branched off to bedrooms and bathrooms.
We would like to put electronic dampers on all (7) main floor branches (close to trunk) and have that be zone one, and the air up to 2nd floor be zone two.
The electronic dampers would be covered behind soundproofing, resilient bar and double drywall so not accessible. How reliable are the electronic dampers? lifespan?
New furnace would be variable speed two zone model.
Hope this description makes sense.
Any insights or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thx