Zoning off all rooms???

anthony_7

I have a dormer with 4 Br's upstairs. I did my Heat Loss and I know how much bb to use.

Originally I was going to zone Master BR and Bath on 1 and Three other BR's on another. I was going to run 5/8 pex for zone supply and return to boiler

What would be involved if I wanted to zone off every bedroom. Would I still have to run 5/8 pex s & r to every room back down to boiler. OR is there a better/easier way with some type of manifold etc. As this is on the 2nd floor and its not that easy to get to the basement with limited walls on first floor.

Also anyone have a ballpark on parts cost difference if I did it this way.

ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE APPRECIATED.

Mark J Strawcutter

TRVs

Single zone for second floor with constant circulation and a TRV for each room.

Single loop with bypass around each TRV "zone", or manifold on second floor feeding each room and differential pressure bypass on the feed to the manifold.

Mark

John@Reliable_2

Whats involved?

just time and money. The first way you said is most common. I think the cost involved to zone all really won't save you much. Every time a door gets left open, and if these are kids room it will happen. Better way maybe is to use a set-back thermostat for that zone that you can control. I would use a 7 day one. You know your lifesysle and set up to that. This way a door left open won't drive you nuts because the heat is on. John@Reliable

PJO_2

I agree with John...

My own home is set-up almost exactly as originally stated...two zones upstairs - MBR and bath, and other three BR's and bath. They are both run off 7 day programmable t-stats and it works great.

The key is to know the proper heatloss in each room and get your lengths just right. The end of my longer run has an extra foot of BB, then a CIBB and a toekick for the Jack and Jill bath...quite a mix in one loop that works great because of good planning (and maybe a little luck!).

I think constant circ and TRV's are great in a lot of places, but in this instance you will only occupy the rooms for maybe ten hours a day...that's a lot of unused comfort the other 14 hours, plus the electrical usage and the cost of several TRV's.

Just this H.O.'s opinion. Take care, PJO

Terry

cost

I find TRV's less expensive than Zone valves. and with ZV, you still need Tstat & 24V Power.

TRV's do not use ANY electricity. (non electric t'static)
They are the way to go.


Terry