[tuccillo]

No. There are also single systems with a controller to open and close dampers in the duct work to control which zone(s) are getting airflow (based on a thermostat in each zone). The better systems have multi-speed or variable speed compressors plus variable speed air handlers. How do I know this? I had such a system (Carrier Infinity) with 4 zones in a previous home . See post #2. It appears that a couple of the posters to this thread have replaced their original system with a zoned system with dampers.

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

Unless you have two condensers you do not have two zones. Therefore whatever your thermostat is set to is the same throughout your home.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

No. There are also single systems with a controller to open and close dampers in the duct work to control which zone(s) are getting airflow (based on a thermostat in each zone). The better systems have multi-speed or variable speed compressors plus variable speed air handlers. How do I know this? I had such a system (Carrier Infinity) with 4 zones in a previous home . See post #2. It appears that a couple of the posters to this thread have replaced their original system with a zoned system with dampers.

You can achieve zoning with electronic air flow dampers, but you will lose some air flow in the warmer zones. But, I don't see how a multi-speed compressor or air handler would help much because the compressor can only run at one speed at a time. Personally, I don't think multi-speed compressors have much benefit in a one story house in Florida.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Blackbird45

These are all great ideas but is it worth the conversion. I see this equivalent to solar panel, most of the people here in The Villages are at an age where they will not get a return on their investment. On the other hand, if you are focus on comfort then money should not be an issue.

not sure how you can measure comfort and optionality of room temperature to get a value for return on investment. Not everything is a financial decision, especially in a home which is not an investment. .

[tuccillo]

Depending on how many zones are calling, you may need different capacity. If you are only calling for dehumidification you may want lower compressor capacity and air flow. Carrier doesn’t agree with you because their Infinity systems have variable speed compressors and air handlers. I had their system for 10 years in a ranch - worked great. It ran at half speed (back when they were using the 2 speed Bristol compressors) most of the time but did kick into full speed for a while each afternoon in the summer. The air handler changed speeds quite frequently as zones opened and closed through the day to maintain temperatures. One of the goals is to have the system running continuously and a variable speed compressor makes this more likely. Cycling is hard on equipment and inefficient. The same principle holds with the mini-split on my lanai. The compressor can run anywhere from 25 to 100% of its nominal capacity. As such, the compressor doesn’t cycle hardly at all.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

You can achieve zoning with electronic air flow dampers, but you will lose some air flow in the warmer zones. But, I don't see how a multi-speed compressor or air handler would help much because the compressor can only run at one speed at a time. Personally, I don't think multi-speed compressors have much benefit in a one story house in Florida.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

Depending on how many zones are calling, you may need different capacity. If you are only calling for dehumidification you may want lower compressor capacity and air flow. Carrier doesn’t agree with you because their Infinity systems have variable speed compressors and air handlers. I had their system for 10 years in a ranch - worked great. It ran at half speed (back when they were using the 2 speed Bristol compressors) most of the time but did kick into full speed for a while each afternoon in the summer. The air handler changed speeds quite frequently as zones opened and closed through the day to maintain temperatures. One of the goals is to have the system running continuously and a variable speed compressor makes this more likely. Cycling is hard on equipment and inefficient. The same principle holds with the mini-split on my lanai. The compressor can run anywhere from 25 to 100% of its nominal capacity. As such, the compressor doesn’t cycle hardly at all.

I think that if Carrier only sold variable speed compressors, they would go out of business. The majority of the Carrier units in The Villages are single stage compressors. One reason that I prefer them is that you can usually get them repaired immediately because parts are readily available. I would also point out that a compressor that runs at a lower speed is not necessarily more efficient, especially if is not programmed correctly to take advantage of a reduced speed. Variable speed compressors have been available for many years, but they still lag in sales way behind the single stage compressor. Most of the time, in The Villages, you want to AC unit running full blast.

[rsmurano]

Originally Posted by jrref

I don't think it's cost effective to zone your A/C here in the Villages unless you have a 2 story home. Because of the open floor plan you would have to close doors of the rooms you didn't want conditioned during the day or at night,

You need to remember, most people like to keep the bedroom cooler at night and it doesn't take a lot of A/C to do that because there is no heat gain from the Sun.

Also, Ecobee now has a thermostat that has individual temperature sensors that also senses motion so you can put one in your main living area, the bedroom and maybe the office and tell Ecobee what temperature you want, when or if it senses you are in the room. So for example, I tell Ecobee to lower the temperature in my bedroom at night and it uses that remote sensor, not the main one in the living room.

You can say you are cooling the whole house which is true but the cost to do this vs one section of you home is minimal.

With the Ecobee you can see when the A/C or heat is On or Off during the day and night to convince yourself of what I'm talking about.

With a multi-story home, totally different situation.

One important thing, a lot of our homes have a 2-wire thermostat system so when you go to install a new thermostat many are surprised. Always pull the cable out a little from the wall because you should find the rest of the wires. BUT, you will need to remove and re-wire the white thermostat communicator box at the inside A/C air handler. If you have questions, PM me since I've done several friends thermostats.

The house doesn’t matter if it’s here or any place else in the country. You can zone any hvac system. Up in Georgia we had 3 heat pumps and 5 thermostats. The hvac tech can zone areas off for better comfort and/or efficiency.
Also, you don’t have to close the doors to make it work.
I almost zoned our place here in TV but decided to get a mini split system. I would have had to increase the current hvac system so it was much more cost effective to get a split system

[biker1]

Power draw at half speed was almost 1/2 of full speed. In addition, you save the inefficiency of cycling. I don’t make decisions on hypotheticals regarding availability of parts that apparently have low failure rates. I would never buy a system with a one speed compressor (except when forced to in my Villages spec home). My current one-speed system cycle frequently - definitely doesn’t run full blast all the time. That is why you want varyable speed speed compressors. Carrier sells mostly one-speed compressors because most people want cheap.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I think that if Carrier only sold variable speed compressors, they would go out of business. The majority of the Carrier units in The Villages are single stage compressors. One reason that I prefer them is that you can usually get them repaired immediately because parts are readily available. I would also point out that a compressor that runs at a lower speed is not necessarily more efficient, especially if is not programmed correctly to take advantage of a reduced speed. Variable speed compressors have been available for many years, but they still lag in sales way behind the single stage compressor. Most of the time, in The Villages, you want to AC unit running full blast.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by biker1

Carrier sells mostly one-speed compressors because most people want cheap.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I want cheap, and my one-speed compressor keeps my house very comfortable. I don't see the need for anything more complicated and most people don't either.

[Retiring]

Originally Posted by Wondering

The villages construction doesn't
t zone its' houses. You have one thermostat for the entire house. When I replaced my AC unit, I zoned the house. I have three thermostats. One for the master bedroom and bath; one for the front two bedrooms, and one for the main part of the house including guest bathroom. I love it!

Not sure when you built your house. I built in 2021 and at that time TV Construction gave me 3 zones (3 thermostats).

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Retiring

Not sure when you built your house. I built in 2021 and at that time TV Construction gave me 3 zones (3 thermostats).

Was that option presented as standard, or did you have to ask for 3 zones and pay extra?

There's a difference.
ie, in 2019, we weren't asked about where we wanted ethernet outlets, but I requested it and paid for it. .

[Retiring]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

Was that option presented as standard, or did you have to ask for 3 zones and pay extra?

There's a difference.
ie, in 2019, we weren't asked about where we wanted ethernet outlets, but I requested it and paid for it. .

They asked if I wanted zones, I said yes. They said ok, tomorrow I’ll get you a price. I paid a SERIOUS premium for the three zones. I hate that I paid dearly for it but I would have paid anything they asked, or maybe walked away. I like the master bedroom 68ish, there is no way I would force guests to sleep at that room temperature.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Retiring

They asked if I wanted zones, I said yes. They said ok, tomorrow I’ll get you a price. I paid a SERIOUS premium for the three zones. I hate that I paid dearly for it but I would have paid anything they asked, or maybe walked away. I like the master bedroom 68ish, there is no way I would force guests to sleep at that room temperature.

nice! I don't remember that they asked us, but the house isn't huge. We have a 3 zone mini split system in MA, and love the ability to heat/cool specific areas.