Ugh !!! Cold Basement!!
#1
Ugh !!! Cold Basement!!
Hello to all,
Here is a problem I'm having. My split level home which was built in '92, has had its basement finished by the original homeowner. He used 2 X 4 construction, drywall, and attached paneling over that. The heat source is two vents directly off the overhead trunk line. The space is about 400 sq ft room. I noticed a ton of cold air coming in through the front of the house (soffets), where there was some R-30 faced insulation stuffed. I added more unfaced batts into the areas and kept the cold air from getting in. The problem is the temp is a constant 10-15 degrees cooler than the main living space. I want to use the downstairs space as our Home Theater area but we can't sit there for two hours to watch a movie as it is now. Any suggestions?
Other info...
Suspended cieling
Cieling is NOT insulated
Rear wall of the room is built out to support two large closets.
Those walls are finished but I do not believed they are insulated.
Construction is concrete block foundation, poured floor.
The paneled walls are cool to the touch, the walls in the closets are warm.
The 2 x 4 walls do not go all the way up to the cieling joists. They stop short about 6-8 inches.
Please excuse my home improvement vocabulary but this is my first home, and first major concern. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Bryan
Here is a problem I'm having. My split level home which was built in '92, has had its basement finished by the original homeowner. He used 2 X 4 construction, drywall, and attached paneling over that. The heat source is two vents directly off the overhead trunk line. The space is about 400 sq ft room. I noticed a ton of cold air coming in through the front of the house (soffets), where there was some R-30 faced insulation stuffed. I added more unfaced batts into the areas and kept the cold air from getting in. The problem is the temp is a constant 10-15 degrees cooler than the main living space. I want to use the downstairs space as our Home Theater area but we can't sit there for two hours to watch a movie as it is now. Any suggestions?
Other info...
Suspended cieling
Cieling is NOT insulated
Rear wall of the room is built out to support two large closets.
Those walls are finished but I do not believed they are insulated.
Construction is concrete block foundation, poured floor.
The paneled walls are cool to the touch, the walls in the closets are warm.
The 2 x 4 walls do not go all the way up to the cieling joists. They stop short about 6-8 inches.
Please excuse my home improvement vocabulary but this is my first home, and first major concern. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Bryan
#3
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are the walls insulated??
If the walls are not insulated, you may want to consider that. That would be a major DIY task, though. Insulating basement walls will help save on heating bills. I live in an area where winter highs are in the 20s and 30s. My insulation paid for itself in 2 years.
However, I understand if you don't want to take on such a task. The space heater is certainly a viable option.
However, I understand if you don't want to take on such a task. The space heater is certainly a viable option.
#4
Well, a space heater is an option but they are unefficient and dangerous. I really need to find out why the basement is so cold before I start adding more heat to it. If its because of inadequate insulation, heating the basement more isn't very cost effective.
The walls that aren't insulated are completely underground whereas the front and side walls are about half and half. Those two walls are insulated.
I will consider a pellet stove if I find that I am just under heating the area. Like I said, this area will eventually be or main living/entertainment area once its warm enough.
Are the two registers inadequate for a 400sq ft room? The thermostat is set at 70 on the mail living area upstairs and I'm guessing its about 60 in the basement.
The walls that aren't insulated are completely underground whereas the front and side walls are about half and half. Those two walls are insulated.
I will consider a pellet stove if I find that I am just under heating the area. Like I said, this area will eventually be or main living/entertainment area once its warm enough.
Are the two registers inadequate for a 400sq ft room? The thermostat is set at 70 on the mail living area upstairs and I'm guessing its about 60 in the basement.
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depends...
Are two registers adequate? That depends on your situation.
In my home I only have one vent to heat 900 s.f. The basement is the warmest room in the house. My walls are insulated and I have an 8-lb pad under the berber carpet.
Insulating the walls will certainly help.
In my home I only have one vent to heat 900 s.f. The basement is the warmest room in the house. My walls are insulated and I have an 8-lb pad under the berber carpet.
Insulating the walls will certainly help.
#6
Re: depends...
Originally posted by BobF
Are two registers adequate? That depends on your situation.
In my home I only have one vent to heat 900 s.f. The basement is the warmest room in the house. My walls are insulated and I have an 8-lb pad under the berber carpet.
Insulating the walls will certainly help.
Are two registers adequate? That depends on your situation.
In my home I only have one vent to heat 900 s.f. The basement is the warmest room in the house. My walls are insulated and I have an 8-lb pad under the berber carpet.
Insulating the walls will certainly help.
thanks for your help!
#7
If no wall insulation, that will help. Might try to remove a couple sections of paneling to see what is back there.
About your existing heat: two vents in the ceiling. Is there a good, forceful flow of air out of them? Heat rises, and it seems that the heat vents could be more adventageously placed (where are they located in the warm rooms of your house?) If enough heat is coming out of the vents, and just not getting to the floor, (take temp readings at head height and at ankle height), then perhaps a fav to "mix up" the air would work. A friend with a slab-on-grade apartment does this in the winter (else the floor gets down to about 45 degrees, even tho at 5 feet it is warm)
About your existing heat: two vents in the ceiling. Is there a good, forceful flow of air out of them? Heat rises, and it seems that the heat vents could be more adventageously placed (where are they located in the warm rooms of your house?) If enough heat is coming out of the vents, and just not getting to the floor, (take temp readings at head height and at ankle height), then perhaps a fav to "mix up" the air would work. A friend with a slab-on-grade apartment does this in the winter (else the floor gets down to about 45 degrees, even tho at 5 feet it is warm)
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If you blow air into a balloon, it'll get bigger and if you let air out of the balloon, it'll get small. Your basement cannot get bigger with heated air being blown in. Your return vents for the furnace is probably located on the other levels. As a certain volume of heated air is being blown into your basement, that same volume of air must leave the basement and go into the returns located on the upper levels. Because as with the basement, your furnace too blows out the same volume of heated air that it takes in.
Which do you think will climb your basement stairs and go into the returns, the warm air coming out of the vents or the cold air at the floor?
Which do you think will climb your basement stairs and go into the returns, the warm air coming out of the vents or the cold air at the floor?
#9
Originally posted by resercon
If you blow air into a balloon, it'll get bigger and if you let air out of the balloon, it'll get small. Your basement cannot get bigger with heated air being blown in. Your return vents for the furnace is probably located on the other levels. As a certain volume of heated air is being blown into your basement, that same volume of air must leave the basement and go into the returns located on the upper levels. Because as with the basement, your furnace too blows out the same volume of heated air that it takes in.
Which do you think will climb your basement stairs and go into the returns, the warm air coming out of the vents or the cold air at the floor?
If you blow air into a balloon, it'll get bigger and if you let air out of the balloon, it'll get small. Your basement cannot get bigger with heated air being blown in. Your return vents for the furnace is probably located on the other levels. As a certain volume of heated air is being blown into your basement, that same volume of air must leave the basement and go into the returns located on the upper levels. Because as with the basement, your furnace too blows out the same volume of heated air that it takes in.
Which do you think will climb your basement stairs and go into the returns, the warm air coming out of the vents or the cold air at the floor?
Thanks!
Bryan
#10
Perhaps an HVAC contractor should look at re-balancing the air flow from the ducts?
Balancing the airflow from a forced-air HVAC system is critical to its performance and efficiency.
As a test: Shut off all of the vents in all of the rooms except your basement. Does the basement get too hot while the upstairs rooms are too cold?
BTW, I recently refinished my basement. There is a man-door leading to the garage. An electric heater and a piece of 6 mil plastic over that door frame gets me through the winter just fine ...
Balancing the airflow from a forced-air HVAC system is critical to its performance and efficiency.
As a test: Shut off all of the vents in all of the rooms except your basement. Does the basement get too hot while the upstairs rooms are too cold?
BTW, I recently refinished my basement. There is a man-door leading to the garage. An electric heater and a piece of 6 mil plastic over that door frame gets me through the winter just fine ...
#13
HAve you thought about baseboard heaters. Easy to install and fairly safe, also have a wall mountable thermostat to control them. i plan on installing a couple in my basement and shutting the direct heat vents, to force more heat upstairs.
Just a thought.
Omnipotent
Just a thought.
Omnipotent
#14
Originally posted by Omnipotent
HAve you thought about baseboard heaters. Easy to install and fairly safe, also have a wall mountable thermostat to control them. i plan on installing a couple in my basement and shutting the direct heat vents, to force more heat upstairs.
Just a thought.
Omnipotent
HAve you thought about baseboard heaters. Easy to install and fairly safe, also have a wall mountable thermostat to control them. i plan on installing a couple in my basement and shutting the direct heat vents, to force more heat upstairs.
Just a thought.
Omnipotent