Home Repair Forum

ajg93 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 09:11 AM

My 2 storey home uses a natural gas forced air furnance. I also have a finshed basement. I am finding that as the weather is getting warmer, my furnance is not coming on as much since the main floor is fairly warm. The problem is that my finished basement gets 2-4 degrees cooler (due to lack of furnance heat)which at this time is slightly to cold for my liking. It's pretty much fine down their in the colder weather. What I am considering is installing some baseboard heaters to supplement the heat while i am spending time down their. Is this an ok idea? The baseboard heaters would really only serve to heat the room up 2-3 degrees so I wouldn't be drawing too much electricity i don't think. Any Thoughts?

Thanks,
Adam

Hube · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 11:20 AM

Installing a couple of Electric baseboard heaters would certainly solve the chilly basement issue, BUT at what cost? Heaters, wiring 220 V, circuit breakers, all add up. And do'nt forget the added cost to operate (Power) them. Approx 8 watts of heat is required to heat 1 sq. foot of room area; eg; a 15 x 12 room will need at least a 1500 watt heater.Why not try another way to put some more heat into the basement by making sure you have adequate ducted supply and returns in this basement area. Have the system "balanced" so more air goes to this chilly area, and have the blower ON running at a lower speed continuously, thus circulating the warmer upper level air to the basement. Hube

ajg93 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 06:13 PM

Hube - Thank you for your advice. My problem in my home is that the main floor holds all the heat. Therefore, if the furnance is not turning on, how will adding more supply or return ducts warm up my basement? What I have noticed actually is that when the furnance is coming back from set-back point, the basement warms up more than the rest of the house (by a few degrees). However, it then cools down quicker. I don't know where this heat is going.

I've tried to fan on ON but it did not make a difference.

jackofall · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 07:07 PM

Maybe a 2nd T-stat. You do have a supply and return for the basement right? Was the basement an added finish to the original house?

ajg93 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 07:50 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by jackofall

Maybe a 2nd T-stat. You do have a supply and return for the basement right? Was the basement an added finish to the original house?

Yes, it was added finish by the previous owners and there is a supply and return. However - the return is in a closed door laundry room. I put in grill openings to this rooom.

jackofall · #6 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 08:41 PM

Maybe the 2nd T-stat piggy-backed with the other one. Sorry I can't tell you how it should be wired but I know it can be done. may also need to have a bigger grill-- try leaving the laundry room door open to see if there is a difference by allowing the air to the return alittle more freely.

ajg93 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 09:22 PM

Thanks for the advice - I will try it. I wonder if there is even a large enough cold air vent down stairs in the basement.

What I really need to do is somehow get the warm air that sits in my main floor out to other parts of the house. The upstairs is cooler, downstairs is cooler. I have all vents closed on the main floor yet it continues to hold all the heat. I have tried running the fan on ON but still doesn't move the air around. Any ideas? I have one large grill at floor level for the return air. I was thinking of putting another on in a different spot but near the ceiling.

THanks,
Adam

Hube · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 06:29 AM

As I suggested on my first reply "you need to have the low speed fan operate and this will circulate the warm air from one level to the otherlower level... In order to achieve this, you need BOTH SUPPLY and RETURNS in the lower level. If the upper floor is too warm, by circulating the air it will parallel the heat, and warm up the lower floor. Heat has a tendency to RISE. A properly ducted system in the lower level will force it to FALL and heat the lower level..

Hube

kactuskid · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 08:22 AM

I would first check to make sure that you have insulation in the sill plate cavity of your basement, alot of heat escapes through this area. Also, it's very hard to heat a basement that has a thermostat located in the upper portion of the house. You actually need a zoned system to adequatly heat the basement with the furnace, this would require a separate thermostat and like Hube pointed out, separate supply and return ducts. Your least expensive alternatives would be baseboard heating or a radiant heat panel. The panels are really very effiecient and easy to install. Here's a link to give you some details. http://www.enerjoy.com/

ajg93 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2004, 10:30 AM

Hube...I do have both supply and returns vents in the basement (2 supply, one return). Would increasing the return size help? I have kept the fan ON in low speed to not much help. As I said, the main floor is keeping all the heat. Both my upstairs and downstairs are cooler. I do think part of the reason stems for an improperly designed system - I just wish I new what was improper about it and what i can do to fix it. It just seems strange that all the hot air is being trapped on the main floor. The house is only 1500 sq ft (not including the basement).

Kactuskid - where is the sill plate cavity? As the previous owners finsihed the basement, I am sure there is nothing I can do now but I am curious to know. Also, thanks for the link to the radiant heating. Do you know of any contact for Canada?

Thanks for the help