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Originally Posted by ChiefsFan4Life
Our house has dual zoned heating and cooling and it is awesome
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I had this installed in May when I replaced my whole heat pump system. The way my AC was ducted made it relatively easy to do. The upstairs and downstairs have there own ducting systems that split right at the air handler. Basically there is a valve that determines what % of the cool air goes to the downstairs and upstairs respectively. Each level has its own thermostat.
This beats the physics problem. You pump most of your cool air upstairs, so the upstairs remains cool. Then as the cool air drifts downstairs, it keeps the downstairs cool too, with relatively little cool air coming to it directly from the air handler.
In the winter you do just the opposite with most of the warm air going to the lower level where it drifts up to the upstairs.
The problem is that this was a $1200 add on to the cost of my system (extra thermostat, computer controller, valve, and some ducting), so it doesn't meet your budget. You might be able to get something similar to work by closing your downstairs air vents most of the way and leaving your upstairs ones open, then switch when the weather gets cold. Probably wouldn't work worth a crap, though.