No Hot Air Duct In Basement- Brrrr- Cold

mrmike

I have been in so many cold basements in this frozen north country that have Hot Air furnaces that someone installed without hot air vents for the basement. Lots of them have insulation under the floors & even the ductwork insulated. Isn't this defeating the purpose? Most say their floors are cold-Duh! Isn't this less cost efficiant as heat rises ? Can I install a duct off of the main ductwork without taking away too much from going upstairs? I was just in a house of an elderly couple this morn & would like to help them out.......... Thanks, Mike

kevjob

yeah mike you can tie off the main trunk only and make sure to use a diffuser cause all the heat will be in the basement. if you don't

__________________
Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

gregj

Mike, I like heated basements for the reasons you cited.

I would call in an HVAC guy rather than just cut in a vent. The reason is that the existing system might not be adequate to heat both the basement and upstairs so you'll end up with a warmer basement but unable to maintain adequate temps upstairs. He can run a manual J and see if the size is adequate. Basement wall insulation might need some upgrading too.

mrmike

Thanks Kevin & Greg- I have actually been in a couple more since my post. One of them I got called for a frozen main coming into the house with the furnace 5 feet away! We had a couple of nights that were 25 below here.There is No heat outlet into the basement anywhere. The water pipe was also not too far from their basement door to the outside. It got its cold draft from that & froze it. I mentioned the heat duct for the basement, and as usual no reaction. I think alot of people have it in-grained in their heads ( why would I heat this down here) " It isn't living space".

flashheatingand

Hey Mike, I can't speak for everyone, but the reason I didn't answer is because there are too many variables to say "go ahead." If the floors and ducts were insulated, It may more wise to wrap the water lines or run some heat tape. In essence do something to with the pipes. instead of the ducts. You may be able to get away with opening up a supply into the space. But who knows? Warning, by cutting-in a supply line, you are using energy to heat & cool a space that doesn't need it for 9 months of the year.

I should have asked, but are the water-lines insulated? around here, it isn't common to see insulated pipe lines.

mrmike

Around here you need it for Nine Months of the year. Usually if they don't have A/C with the system they shut them down for the summer (3 months) Heat rises & with the heat system in the basement, in my opinion, should also be used to heat that space. I have had to open up a heating duct in customers house because in an energy audit that they had done the company closed the heat vent. They complained that there houses were colder than ever & their floors were cold.
I myself have owned a home that a former owner had everything insulated in the basement, the floor joists & hw boiler piping,etc & you could see your breath down there in the winter. You could see where he scorched joists trying to unthaw pipes. I removed all the insulation & insulated the peremiter better & never had a problem after that & my floors were warm.
This past winter & installed a pellet stove in my "new to me" house & shut the furnace down & our floors are cold, so I have to run an electric heater down there - you are not heating the space for nothing-as heat rises-and if your heating system is down there-in my opinion-use it starting there-you will be warm & happy Mike