How We Fixed the Hot & Cold Rooms in This Home?

A complete high-efficiency HVAC transformation designed for the extreme heating and cooling demands of the Chicagoland climate. In this project, I combined two different HVAC technologies in one Highland Park, IL home to solve a real comfort problem — uneven temperatures between floors, limited zoning control, and the goal of reducing gas dependence while staying reliable through Chicago's coldest winters. The central system: A Lennox Dave Lennox Signature Collection setup — the SLP99V variable-capacity gas furnace paired with the SL22KLV cold-climate variable-capacity heat pump and the Lennox S40 communicating smart thermostat. This is Lennox's top-of-the-line communicating system, and the SL22KLV is specifically engineered to deliver full heating capacity down to subzero outdoor temperatures — ideal for Chicago winters. The multi-zone system: A Mitsubishi MXZ-3DNLHZ cold-climate multi-zone outdoor unit connected to three indoor units — two Mitsubishi MLZ-KX ceiling-recessed cassettes (living room and family room) and one Mitsubishi MFZ-KX floor-mounted unit in the basement. Each zone is independently controlled, which is something a single central system cannot provide. Why two systems? A large home like this one has different needs in different areas. The central Lennox system handles the main conditioned space efficiently. The Mitsubishi zones address specific problem areas with pinpoint comfort — without overcooling or overheating the rest of the house. The project also includes dual 5-inch MERV 16 media filters and a whole-house air purifier, which significantly improve filtration surface area compared to a standard 1-inch filter setup. 🏠 Chicagoland Homeowners — Contact Me for a Consultation If you're located in Chicago or the Chicagoland suburbs and you're considering: HVAC system replacement Upgrading to a heat pump (including cold-climate models) Mitsubishi ductless or ducted multi-zone systems Lennox Signature Collection equipment Dual-fuel or hybrid heat pump systems Zoning for large or multi-story homes Comfort problems — hot/cold rooms, uneven temperatures High-efficiency system design Equipment sizing, layout, or upgrade consulting Feel free to reach out directly: 📧 francobarbagallohvac@gmail.com I work with Chicagoland homeowners to design systems that actually match the home, the climate, and the goals — not just whatever's on the truck. Equipment installed in this project: 🔵 Lennox SLP99V — Dave Lennox Signature Collection variable-capacity gas furnace (90,000 BTU) 🔵 Lennox SL22KLV — Dave Lennox Signature Collection cold-climate variable-capacity heat pump (4 ton) 🔵 Lennox S40 — Communicating Wi-Fi smart thermostat 🔵 Mitsubishi MXZ-3DNLHZ — Cold-climate variable-speed multi-zone outdoor unit 🔵 Mitsubishi MLZ-KX — Ceiling-recessed cassette (living room) 🔵 Mitsubishi MLZ-KX — Ceiling-recessed cassette (family room) 🔵 Mitsubishi MFZ-KX — Floor-mounted indoor unit (basement) 🔵 Dual 5-inch MERV 16 media filters + APCO X whole-house air purifier 00:00 Introduction – Two HVAC Systems in One Chicago Home 00:27 Outdoor Equipment Overview – Lennox + Mitsubishi Units 01:25 Why Inverter & Variable-Speed Technology Changes Everything 04:00 Heat Pump vs. Furnace – The Hybrid System Strategy 05:45 New Line Set & Refrigerant Piping 06:16 Why This Home Needed Zoning (The Problem With One System) 08:30 Lennox Signature Collection: SL22KLV & SLP99V Overview 11:00 Mitsubishi MLZ-KX Ceiling Cassette – Living Room 13:20 Mitsubishi MLZ-KX Ceiling Cassette – Family Room 15:25 Mitsubishi MFZ-KX Floor-Mount Unit – Basement 18:40 Lennox SLP99V High-Efficiency Furnace & Dual-Filter Return 20:30 MERV 16 Filtration & Whole-House Air Purification 23:40 Lennox S40 Smart Thermostat & System Wrap-Up