Did you pay $10K or $15K for your HVAC system? Was the HVAC installation done as part of the NJ Home Energy Efficiency Program?

You are not being unreasonable. You should not have a 7 degree temperature difference between the first and second floors.

Is the HVAC system installed in the basement? Did you have air flow and temperature issues on the second floor with your old HVAC system?

I would be ill too.

So I understand you are holding back final $5 K payment?

You have a return upstairs?

Furnace is located in attic or basement/crawlspace?

Your problem on the surface seems to be ductwork sizing/ design related.

Temperature differential problem between main floor zone and upstairs zone is quite common. However, yours appears to be extreme. You need to get more CFMs in cooling mode to upstairs. Now the question is how that can be accomplished. Was there ever any mention of a zoning control for the upstairs?

Post back.
IMO

Thanks for the replies folks! Couple of things:
It is part of the NJ clean energy program. Cost for new replacement Trane 3 ton HVAC system, air sealing and additional insulation is $15k. Would guess hvac was maybe $11k of this.
There us a return on ground floor and upstairs
Equipment is in laundry room on ground floor.
The installer called me this morning and he said he forgot to look under the house (his guys did insulate and wrap down there!!) and that there are 13 runs and there really should be maybe 7? They are going to head out and cap some off to assist with directing the air upstairs. I look forward to a resolution as I keep pushing then forward on this and will hold back the final $5k until fixed.

I have not participated in the NJ Clean Energy Program, but I am familiar as to how it works. My perception from reading other posts is the prices are inflated and the installation quality is marginal at best.

It sounds like your house is built on a crawl space. Are there flexible ducts in the crawl space? Is the HVAC contractor saying there are 13 flexible duct lines connected to registers on your first floor? Have you verified you have 13 registers and if so what will happen when he reduces the runs down to 7?

How is the duct work connected to the second floor? Is it the same duct work running in the crawl space?

I am suspicious of the proposed fixed. You did answer the question as to whether you had second floor temperature problems with your old system.

Do you have a 2-stage AC? If you do then you should see if it is possible to create a zone for the second floor.

This post was edited by mike_home on Tue, Sep 17, 13 at 13:53

You are at least in the driver's seat as long as you have the final payment. It isn't unreasonable to expect all your home to be comfortable unless one or more rooms were excluded as living space on the preposal. You need to alow the contractor to resolve this by doing what it takes. Do not tell him what proceedure to use such as more or bigger ducts.