Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have two themostats: one for upstairs and one for downstairs. We have a downstairs master, and so we hardly ever go upstairs. Since hot air rises, are we heating the entire house with one thermostat when we run the downstairs one, and would it be more cost effecient to run both thermostats. I have searched the internet for an answer to this question, but can't really find an answer. Thanks for any help.
If you can heat the upstair in a satisfactory manner with only the setting on the downstairs thermostat then something probably is not working correctly,
Yes, heat rises but that should not result in a nicely balanced well heated upstairs volume. Somehow it is saying the system supplies and returns heat from both zones to some extent when only one thermostat is calling for heat.
In general with a properly operating two zone system only the zone temperature on the affected level should be noticeable from its setting. If another zone is being maintained at something close to setpoint it would call in question exactly how the system is operating. You should be able to set and maintain widely different setpoints on different levels, if desired. If there is no return from the upstairs when the lower level is running the amounts of heat transferred should be nominal.
I know, the present house I have had only heat on the lower level when I bought it. You froze in the upstairs, especially inside various rooms, the amounts of heat that got upstairs by convection currents or conduction thru materials is definitely not enough for comfort. Somehow your system is "Leaking".
Two zones with different thermostat settings is the most cost effective, fuel efficient way to run a heating system, plus it gives the most comfort in all areas.
What kind of heat - forced air, radient, or something else? If forced air, do you have 2 furnaces or heat pumps, or just one?
How tight can you shut off the upstairs from downstairs? Is there just one staircase, more than one?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It sounds like the system is not working properly
