This is one of those things that can only be diagnosed locally be a qualified repair man. Not many of those around these days.

This is one of the main reasons, I would never consider a zoned system - no-one knows how to get them to work properly!

Intermittent problems are difficult to trouble shoot. Was the problem occurring when the techs were on site?

They ended up replacing the control board (I think they couldn't figure it out so just thought it must be that).

If the new board is good, and it was installed correctly, then the next thing to look at is the power to the control board and the control inputs. Maybe your area has brown outs and the power dips causing the board to malfunction. Maybe the wires from the thermostat to the control board have loose connections inside the wall. It comes down to checking everything carefully with a meter when the thermostat is calling no zones, and then call all zones at the same time. It requires a tech with good trouble shooting skills.

"This is one of the main reasons, I would never consider a zoned system - no-one knows how to get them to work properly!"

Zone control isn't rocket science, but you need a competent controls person to set them up. We retrofitted zone controls on each of two systems in our last home. The improvement in occupant comfort was well worth the investment. The zone controller and dampers for the 2nd floor system were replaced when the system was replaced at 15 years +/- of age. The system on the 1st floor was still going strong at age 18.

Tim,with over five decades of hvac experience I will just say all three responses above are what I would tell you. You should make it understood up front you are paying to have it diagnosed and repaired ,not to help techs gain experience and have parts thrown at it. If the same company came out all those times,have a talk with their owner and ask that they look once more,give you an estimate,how much credit they will give you against the estimate and how long they warranty the resolution. If you were billed for the time they were there for hours then called in a supervisor ,you are intitled to free troubleshooting this time around. The tools and instruments are available to diagnose this,all that's needed is someone who knows how to use them.

Honeywell zone systems aren't all that.

Does this mean they don't work at all? No.

There in lies the rub. You will get differing opinions. If I was replacing a zone system I would redesign it using controls I know are better. Design is partly control choice (anything that is attached to the zone system to make decisions where to send air / close air off / redirect air some where) all of these things are factors that can make or break a zone system.

Zone systems are a time warp for those that work on them (labor costs yeah better not forget about that). Better parts are better because?

Just because they cost more?

UH no. Design? Let's forget about that? In the hands of someone who doesn't know?

So you're committed to doing the part swap tango because you believe a honeywell this or that is prescribed by some as being good?

Zone systems are put thru a work out. Did you know those dampers all open after any call? Then close again when certain zones call?

If you are predominantly using 1 or 2 zones in a multi zone system those dampers get a work out. Every time the AC or Heat turns on. There's a lot of garbage made in the zone system space.

Why is it garbage? It's a matter of opinion based on 28 years of seeing it in person.

I no longer chase my tail with zone designs that are not of my design. Typically these are builder installed from the day the house was built. The builder isn't coming back.

How much you wanna bet there's going to be a disgruntled builder that lives in a more mild climate that has nothing but good things to say about honeywell and their zone products?

I service the Katy, Texas area.

I fixed a multi zone system over a year ago where others were wanting to replace everything for 30 grand. It wasn't what I would call a cheap fix but far less than 30 grand.

Note this wasn't fixed from a forum board, unfortunately yours won't either.

no one knows how to fix them? (What am I chopped liver?)

The proper slur is: There's this pardner with a 10 gallon Hat in Katy, Texas that can fix a zone system and more. (Fix is an operative word, I don't piddle with garbage.)

Click to enlarge.

Other than providing entertainment, Ray, how does your anecdote help the OP?

See? Told ya.

In principle I agree with sktn77 saying no-one knows how to get them to work properly. There's a few that can but finding one of them is a chore. I wouldn't zone a two story of my own even though I do my own service and repair. I realize little we've said gets OP any closer to resolving his problem but I've packed my tools and left more than once because the customer wanted me to do what they had been told by some third party. My son still likes telling people about the day he went to work with me and I backed out of a job over a tenant (my customer's tenant) telling me how I should be doing it. With that said Tim I recommend the system be protected from voltage spikes. I've had cases where circuit boards kept failing until I installed voltage spike protection. You might ask how I know voltage spikes were the problem. I started leaving a current/voltage data logger temporarily connected when replacing boards for unexplained reason. As an aside,this along with other "above and beyond" actions earned a reputation of "not the cheapest but the best". If op hired me I might ask how much he spent up to now and if the figure was high enough quote that figure with a 90 day call back parts and labor warranty. To be transparent, the final 40 years of my career,90% of work was for a closed clientele and v-e-r-y special exceptions in the other 10%. My son took the business to 100% electrical contracting with the same business model. The only reason he pays for a phone answering service is to have some tell callers he isn't taking on new customers and when they say they are a friend or neighbor ,tell them his first available appointment is 6 months away. His clients have his cell and strict instructions not to give it out. Early on when I was a 1 man gang and taking anything i could get,I had homeowners try every scheme in the book to save money. One scheme I found entertaining was where they called after a job to talk to the boss and report misbehavior by the technician who did their job. I'd play along then tell them with their approval I was going to record our conversation. Some people have an imagination good enough to write novels . Naturally they would forget the whole thing if their money was refunded. Call me evil but after they spun their tale,I told them they are talking to the boss ,the boss did their job and if it get's back to me you say any of this in public you'll be dam lucky if I don't sue you much less refund your money.

It's a two way street with incompetent contractors and self centered customers that don't recognize a good thing when the see it.

You might ask how I know voltage spikes were the problem. I started leaving a current/voltage data logger temporarily connected when replacing boards for unexplained reason.

Kelm1,

Nice to hear you used these types of techniques to track down intermittent problems. These are the skills which need to be taught in HVAC trade schools.

Thank you Mike. Reading between the lines of what I wrote above,"these skills" would be taught in trade schools if consumers stood firm on not paying for DWADDLING SERVICE

"Could you go out there and check the system to see if what this other company did is working properly?"

"This guy has done work with me in the past."

Ray, why is it that one of your former customers would want anybody but you working on their HVAC systems?

Ray, why is it that one of your former customers would want anybody but you working on their HVAC systems?

Money, why else? He's not complaining about the homes I've fixed.

People like to think that all that's necessary is that the system turns on and off. I thought I made that clear... but Charles, you're mostly known for only reading what you want and then twisting that to fit your own narrative.

He would have known that I would have charged more than double to do the work this other company did. The difference?

It would be working properly / not having to call repeatedly this other company, schedule these appointments with the tenant and so on.

If all you care about is that the unit turns on and off --- go for it. August light bills right around the corner. You're gonna pay for it anyway -- or the tenant is. But a steady stream of move in / move outs for a rental --- the landlord will pay for that in other ways.

I know this too because? I also own a rental.

"Money, why else?"

I guess this customer views you in the category of HVAC service contractors competing on price. I get that better service commands higher prices. You just didn't justify that to this customer based on your earlier service visits.

I guess this customer views you in the category of HVAC service contractors competing on price.

Wrong again as usual Charles. It was a home warranty company that performed the work.

I omitted that info on purpose to allow you to stick your foot in your mouth again.

Charles, you could never do what I do. So I don't know why you even try?

I've noticed over the months/years that when Mr Austin wishes to post a favorable customer comment, it's always this same one from Mr Shah that he included above.

We should reserve the third Tuesday of every month for seeing who can make the biggest fool of themselves. Could take wagers to make it interesting because spontaneous attempts usually aren't. :-}

Elmer it's a real review. Most people like yourself don't want to be identified, which is why you run around pretending to be a cartoon character?

Foot is again on the menu today....

Meanwhile my company name is my real name.

Anyone can generate fake reviews. I thought you of all people would be smarter than foolish thinking like what you're portraying here. The review in question was a job I did over a year ago. I did another zone replace job this year, I don't force my customers to write reviews --- I let them do it because they want to.

Anyone can replace everything for 20-30 grand to fix something.

Anyone can assume if the unit kicks on / kicks off it must be working.

We should reserve the third Tuesday of every month for seeing who can make the biggest fool of themselves.

Klem1, I'm fine with the way it is now. I like it when they don't see it coming. The punchline that is... ha, ha, ha, ha. Plus to borrow a line it's entertaining.

I'm just like you, I like a good show. LOL.

If someone logged onto Google, left a review as Elmer J Fudd... how many would believe the review is real? Show of hands?

I service the Katy, Texas area. [Real AC Service]

You are the show, Ray. Did you get any sock puppets to use in your videos yet?

Check your local forecast for start times...

Mission: Uncomfortable.

"Elmer it's a real review."

Keep it on the refrigerator door? Why always the same one and never others?

It's always the same review, it's always the same thing.... too hot / too cold / too humid / this doesn't work / that doesn't work.

I show you what I've done to get it to work, yet that is still not enough? ha, ha, ha.

But I want something new.... lol. To me it is all old news for the most part. 28 years talking here.

Belief is a funny thing... even when you show people proof -- they want you to provide even more proof. Then when you provide them that proof... they still do not believe it.

Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe anyway.

For the doubting Thomases... my You Tube Channel that demonstrates a small fraction of my overall HVAC career of 28 years as of 2022.

Yeah, he ducked the question. I'm glad he has a written commendation. The fact that he uses the same one over and over makes one wonder if there are many others.

About a dozen years ago, we were getting quotes to have our house reroofed. The biggest roofing contractor in town was one we'd heard good things about, we called them for a quote and the owner came to do the estimate. In leaving he handed us a folder of materials, including 4 stapled printed pages (like from a spreadsheet) listing names, addresses, dates, and roofing material used. He said "here are some of our recent jobs, feel free to drive by to see them and feel free to call anyone. All of our past customers are our best references." We did some driving around and I made 3 phone calls to names I tried to pick at random. Each person was indeed a positive reference. Though not the lowest bid, they got the work and did a great job.

Not all customers/clients are easy to get along with. Some make it difficult to do well or make a good impression. But it's something to aspire to, making every customer a potential positive reference. This roofing contractor seems to be able to do it with a high degree of success. No wonder he's built up a large and successful business.

I believe in those seeking the truth but I usually doubt those who say they found it.

"Though not the lowest bid, they got the work and did a great job.

No wonder he's built up a large and successful business."

Exactly what I tell new and aspiring business owners. Sounds very noble but its not easy by a long stretch. Unless one is highly experienced operating business and/or has enough cash reserve to weather a storm at the beginning,don't quite your day job. By not quiting your day job I'm saying you will be turning jobs down to avoid less desirable situations and you will not be able to charge top prices at the beginning. Not being able to hand potential customer "a folder of materials, including 4 stapled printed pages (like from a spreadsheet) listing names, addresses, dates, and roofing material used." will be a handicap starting out.

It's easier to keep a rolling car rolling than to start it moving when stopped. A top reputation will indeed command more work at higher prices but top reputations need to be first be earned by satisfying customers and doing top quality work. Prices for which, at the outset, won't command a premium.

There are customers who, even when not constrained to do so, will choose the lowest bidder. They get what they pay for. A reputation for honesty and quality work leads to far more success than does buying jobs with low prices. Or by trying to pretend to have a reputation that one doesn't have, the truth usually always comes out.

Yeah, he ducked the question. I'm glad he has a written commendation. The fact that he uses the same one over and over makes one wonder if there are many others.

Because the answer is as obvious as the nose on your face.

It was an in depth review that explained things to a "T" --- I use the same review over and over... The job originated from Houzz, from a person that never posted here. I don't get many jobs from houzz because? the majority of posts are those trying to do it themselves. Fill in whatever excuse you want as to why they are doing that.

It was a job that had problems... those problems were addressed. It was a job that was quoted by others at 30 grand to replace everything. I didn't fix it by replacing any equipment. Zoning only for a fraction what others quoted.

Elmer, you couldn't be my customer (you don't live in my service area) yet you are worried about me using an indepth review over and over that does more than demonstrate my abilities.

I could easily provide other reviews --- but if one review about a complex job leaves doubts it's not likely a slew of reviews that say "good job" are going to make much difference.

Because you'll say all these other reviews lack substance "look fake" or whatever other excuse you can dream up.

Many of my customers recommend others... then there's the fact of the youtube channel that shows job after job after job. Let's dismiss that?

If I had a review problem or a fixing it problem why are all these jobs coming my way? (Let's watch you now turn around and duck my questions.)

Bad news travels much farther and faster than good news. Things go wrong often in this business of HVAC. Yet the only bad review I got it about me talking condescending to a wife which was more about telling the wife the decision to install a humidifier in a mostly humid climate was a waste of money. I tell it like I see it, if you view that as condescending? Well you probably can't handle the truth and if you can't handle the truth you're not going to like what I have to say....

People use my services for that very reason. I tell it like it is. This isn't fantasy island.

Austin Air...Do you realize how much time youve spent on here complaining about customers and self aggrandizing? You clearly arent very busy lol. Get off the internet and go do some work.

Tim, I spend my time here while I drink my morning coffee.

HVAC is what I do. I've had all these jobs I've done with no complaints... one man show.

An example of when you're a pro and you get things done. Should I have to lay this out for you?

No.

But I do it anyway. You have your opinion and a right to it. But I also have that same right.

Welcome to August.

"Because the answer is as obvious as the nose on your face."

Yes, I think my third sentence has the answer.

You're free to think what you want Elmer.

In my book though I wouldn't classify that as thinking. (Argue for the sake of arguing.)

Escape the politics of a forum board ---- call me directly.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

"Escape the politics of a forum board ---- call me directly."

What a wonderful offer. Ray, if you'll take calls directly in lieu of posting here on houzz.com they'll be a lot less misinformation spread and houzzers won't have to endure the self-aggrandizing anecdotes you post in an obvious effort to use houzz.com as a free advertising.

The number to call is 832/475-6895 No need to ask for Ray-he's a one man show.

Thanks for proving my point Charles.

You're welcome, Ray. Thanks for not scolding me for omitting the statement that you service the Katy, TX area.

Austin Air Companie is not cool. The reason we go to forums is because it's almost impossible to find AC people with brain cells.

Austin Air Companie is not cool. The reason we go to forums is because it's almost impossible to find AC people with brain cells.

You're free to have an opinion Rob Schofield. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy.

Here's an opinion from a customer of mine.

click to enlarge.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

(Only if you live in or near the Katy, Texas area and looking to schedule HVAC service should you ever call me.)

Robo Killer: If you are a new customer, follow the prompts and provide the necessary information to reach me. New in 2024 to provide you the best HVAC service and repair service possible.

I will always allow you to voice your opinion good or bad, as long as you give me the right to voice mine.