Builder reluctance – multiple heat zones
Just curious – nothing we can do now. My son bought new construction from one of those mammoth builders in Colorado Springs. (Yeah, I know, but you can’t hardly find a single lot in that burg.) 2500 sq ft home with natural gas forced hot air/AC.
For most items you could specify changes, obviously for more $$. But when he asked for multiple heating zones, they acted like they’d never heard of it. This was well before any framing, let alone ducting installation had been done, and all he wanted was a separate zone for the finished basement. The heating guy said multiple zones would require multiple furnaces (for 2500 sq ft?).
Obviously a BS answer, but we’re just curious, from a builder’s point of view, why they’d be so reluctant to give multiple zones even with the buyer willing to pay for it.
Replies
MY guess would be they have a pile of HVAC systems set aside for the subdivision and they don't want to deal with that change.
As you are probably aware, the request could be handled by setting up two seperate systems (as they builder stated) or have a dampered system controlled by two T-stats.
Either way adds more complexity to the job and more cost. As with all subdivision houses, you are buying an end product, not a service and big builders want to minimize deviation from the plan as much as possible.
Frankly, your son's approach would be better, but from the builder's perspective it is not easier.
Best of luck,
Bruce
Just thinking about a remod project I was a sub on and the HVAC guy retrofitted a few electronic dampers to the existing ducts. Three dampers took him about a half hour to install. I asked him how much and he just said they are kinda pricey. That's about all I know about that, I hope it helps some.DC
The guy's an idiot. A damper-controlled system can be installed for under a thousand bucks, and with very minor modifications of the standard ducting scheme. In a two-level house it will significantly increase comfort.
It's cooky cutter approach to building. They are just big cookies.