Ask your HVAC questions here.....

[John Yanko]

Thank you Loren Thomas for the idea! http://www.biggerpockets.com/users/BumperLT

I have been working in the HVAC industry here in Chicago for 5 years. I work in the commercial/ industrial side but same concepts apply to residential. BP has, and still is, given me a great opportunity to learn about REI.

[Brian Mathews]

Originally posted by @John Yanko:

@Eddy Dumire

Unfortunately, I have never dealt with zoning on a residential system,so unfortunately no recommendations. Commercial I see Automated Logic, Invensys, and Precision. All of which are for building management. 

  If you are able to follow a wiring diagram and make sense of one and capable of adding dampers to ductwork, you should have no problem. 

I'm a licensed hvac contractor and that is horrible advice.   Its a lot more than adding a few dampers and wiring it up.   What are you going to do when 1 zone is calling and that 4 tons of air is trying to travel through 1 ton of ductwork?  You'll blow a compressor when you slug the compressor with liquid refrigerant or you'll crack the heat exchanger by overheating it.   You have to manage the air.   If its a 3 story place, you will not be able to achieve what you want to do without extensive duct modifications to be able to handle that situation.    You will need a bypass and increasing the duct sizes.    If you want to make it work without duct modifications, look into the Carrier Infinity series.    It will require a new condenser and furnace/air handler.    It will reduce the amount of air based upon the zone size that it will calculate for you.