Is it more economical to have two hvac units for a two-story house, one for upstairs and one for downstairs.?

Answer 1

It's definitely more efficient since heat rises and cold air falls. This will mean that if you have one unit, the upstairs will be hot in the winter while it's cold downstairs. 2 units means you can set the upstairs temp slightly lower and downstairs slightly higher to maintain an equal temperature on both floors.

As to whether it's more economical, that depends on several factors including how long you plan to stay in the home, how much installation and equipment would cost, etc. If you plan on staying in the home forever, you'll probably want to go for it.

Answer 2

Yes, dual units will prove more economical in the long run. You can buy a smaller (and therefor less expensive) unit for each separate area and install two separate thermostats to control each independently. It will take at least ten years of energy-cost savings years to recoup the initial extra cost, but the missing annoyance of always having one floor be too hot or too cold makes the extra initial investment more worthwhile than any long-term savings.

Answer 3

Yes! Put the units on separate thermostats. Running one for upstairs and one for downstairs

Answer 4

Yes and Yes. It will save on your power bill and give you the ability to maintain the temperature on each level easier. Remember heat rises and cool air settles. I have four zones in my house and lessened my power bill by forty percent. Check with your HVAC company and they can advise you on the best heat loss/heat gain system, for your house. Always get at least two estimates, and three are even better.

Answer 5

Yes it is because your furnace for downstairs will not have to work as hard to move air upstairs, plus you will basically have 2 zones, so if you know your going to be downstairs for most of the day you can lower your upstairs furnace

Answer 6

Aside from the advantages already listed; Having two units provides some redundancy. If one unit breaks down, you can keep the house cool/warm using just one unit. It may not be very efficient, but if it keeps your pipes from freezing once, it will have paid for it self.

Answer 7

In large measure ( no pun intended) it depends on a few things...two of them being the size of the house, and the design. Certainly there are many larger homes with more than one unit of AC.

Obviously HEAT rises,and even with AC should be vented somehow. It's not uncommon for a 2 level house with a 3 ton unit to have a higher ambient temperature on the second level. In that particular case the 3 Ton may work overtime? 2 Units at 2 Ton each, properly ducted, might actually be more efficient, and save costs.

There are times when providing a LARGER tonnage unit may not be as effective as 2 units specific in ducting, etc. depending on the size and design of a house.

Example: A widely accepted industry standard might be 1 ton for 750 to 1000 sq. ft. of structure.

Certainly other factors are important, such as the substance of the structure, insulation, number or windows/openings, direction the house sits at which afford Sun exposure///Shade from trees, etc. etc.

Steven Wolf

Answer 8

Yes.