Central Heating/Air problem

[BlancoNino]

So as I finish up college, I'm currently renting a house with 2 of my friends (one of which owns the house). It's a sweet deal and a pretty nice house. It's a split-entry house with 2 bedrooms upstairs and 1 bedroom downstairs. The downstairs isn't really underground, but that's where my bedroom is.

The problem is that the downstairs is like 6-10 degrees colder than the upstairs at any given time. Whether we aren't running heat, are running heat, etc. Right now it's like 64 degrees down here with COLD air blowing out of the vents because the upstairs thermostat is set to 70 and it's like 72 up there (there's been some warm days here). I shut all the vents downstairs, but it's still freezing down here. What can I do to warm this place up? I'm thinking of getting a miniature heater for my room, but I don't want something that's going to suck up a lot of energy or be a fire hazard since I'm away at college. As soon as summer hits, I know it'll be nice down here, but that's only a few months out of the year.

Thanks for your input in advance!

 

[biggestmuff]

The air handler may have baffles to divert the air during different seasons. When using heat, you want the heated air supply to blow into the lower level. When using the A/C, you want the chill air to blow to the upper levels. Adjusting the registers on each floor is one way to accomplish this, but the air handler may have baffles in the air supply ducts to help adjust the air better, Right now, they may be set up to blow all of the air handler's air to the lower level. Check the air supply ducts leaving the air handler. There may be a small handle on the side of the duct to divert the air between the upper and lower levels.

 

[Vette73]

Cold air sinks hot air rises.

So in the winter reduce the opeing to the upstairs vents and open full the downstairs.
In the summer reduce the downstaors and open full upstairs.

 

[BoomerD]

As long as the temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the warmer parts of the house, there isn't much that the OP can do to make the furnace blow warm air into the basement. A portable space heater may be his only option...or more blankets and sweatshirts.

Summer will most likely also be colder for him as the temperature upstairs will be warmer than in the basement...and the AC will blow more cold air into the basement than the temperature there requires. (time to shut/restrict the vents)

 

[KK]

Buy a big ass fan and point it up the stairs.

 

[waffleironhead]

You should have shut all of the vents upstairs, not downstairs. Then all of the heat would puch into the downstairs rooms before trickling upstairs via the stairwell. Best bet would be to pick up a small space heater and put it in your room, and run it with the door closed, they make plenty of safe models(cool to the touch and shut off when tipped over). Depending on the output, they can heat the room up pretty quickly so you do not need to leave it on while you are not there.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

It's 94 degrees here, and starting to get humid, I'd kill to be able to walk into a room under 68 degrees, WITHOUT turning on the AC! Call us frugal, but even in mid winter we rarely have the thermostat above 66 degrees, (4500sq. ft.), of coarse, we have something the OP apparently doesn't,-- CLOTHES.

 

[iGas]

Close all doors that lead to down stair.

Check and adjust if there are return air vent/s for basement. Add return air vent/s if it doesn't exist.

Cheapest way to go would be run a small space heater in basement room, and again keeps all doors close.

 

[boomerang]

You need a second thermostat in the basement that control dampers on the ductwork. Opens or shuts down the air flow to the lower level as needed.

It can get expensive depending on how the existing ductwork is laid out and whether the area is finished or not. The furnace or A/C will run when either thermostat calls for heating or cooling, with the dampers controlling air flow.

Edit: And it still won't totally solve the problem, because of the hot air rising and the cold air sinking problem.

 

[shortylickens]

I can only repeat the previous advice.
Close the vents in your room. Close all the doors.
Use a small heater while you are in there.
Be grateful.
When summer comes around you will be a happy camper.


EDIT:
My problem is living in a 3 level townhouse and no way to seperate the levels. In winter all the heat flows right up the stair case and theres no way to stop it. When I go downstairs to watch TV I need a blanket and long underwear. When I come back upstairs to use the computer I need to open a window.

In summer with the air conditioning all the cold air settles down on the first level. Its fine for TV watching, but I cant sleep upstairs without sweating like a little piggy, and the office is insanely hot. Since I live in a Homeowners Association I can't put a small window AC in the office.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: boomerang
You need a second thermostat in the basement that control dampers on the ductwork. Opens or shuts down the air flow to the lower level as needed.

It can get expensive depending on how the existing ductwork is laid out and whether the area is finished or not. The furnace or A/C will run when either thermostat calls for heating or cooling, with the dampers controlling air flow.

The hack job that you are suggesting wouldn't work properly and it isn't cheap to do so.

Motorized dampers aren't cheap. They are around $80 or more each whole sales. And, they aren't commonly use even in institutional, commercial, or industrial environment, because balancing the air flow would be a nightmare, unless you have a dedicated computer control system that start at around $2000 for the control module. The blower have to be upgrade to a multi-variable speed to accommodate the motorized balance system. Total cost would easily double the cost of the average HVAC system.

As said above hot air rise therefore it will be a bit difficult trying to keep multi level dwelling temperature balance with a force air system.

Supply air isn't going to do much good in the basement if there isn't return air vents to provide air path. Return air vent generally install in the main floor as a large single register. In some case a few rooms above main floor may employ return air vent/s as well as the main floor. The only time that I installed return air in the basement for air movement is in very expensive custom home, because they employs HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system where air quality and comfort is at the uttermost important.

That said, my suggestions above still stand as the most effective method of keeping warm in a cold basement with force air system.

<-- Plumbing/Gas/HVAC

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I can only repeat the previous advice.
Close the vents in your room. Close all the doors.
Use a small heater while you are in there.
Be grateful.
When summer comes around you will be a happy camper.


EDIT:
My problem is living in a 3 level townhouse and no way to seperate the levels. In winter all the heat flows right up the stair case and theres no way to stop it. When I go downstairs to watch TV I need a blanket and long underwear. When I come back upstairs to use the computer I need to open a window.

In summer with the air conditioning all the cold air settles down on the first level. Its fine for TV watching, but I cant sleep upstairs without sweating like a little piggy, and the office is insanely hot. Since I live in a Homeowners Association I can't put a small window AC in the office.

HRV will be some what effective method at moving hot/cold air around the home. It is a bit late, but if you can install at least 1 return air vent in every room.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: iGas

Originally posted by: boomerang
You need a second thermostat in the basement that control dampers on the ductwork. Opens or shuts down the air flow to the lower level as needed.

It can get expensive depending on how the existing ductwork is laid out and whether the area is finished or not. The furnace or A/C will run when either thermostat calls for heating or cooling, with the dampers controlling air flow.

The hack job that you are suggesting wouldn't work properly and it isn't cheap to do so.

Motorized dampers aren't cheap. They are around $80 or more each whole sales. And, they aren't commonly use even in institutional, commercial, or industrial environment, because balancing the air flow would be a nightmare, unless you have a dedicated computer control system that start at around $2000 for the control module. The blower have to be upgrade to a multi-variable speed to accommodate the motorized balance system. Total cost would easily double the cost of the average HVAC system.

As said above hot air rise therefore it will be a bit difficult trying to keep multi level dwelling temperature balance with a force air system.

Supply air isn't going to do much good in the basement if there isn't return air vents to provide air path. Return air vent generally install in the main floor as a large single register. In some case a few rooms above main floor may employ return air vent/s as well as the main floor. The only time that I installed return air in the basement for air movement is in very expensive custom home, because they employs HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system where air quality and comfort is at the uttermost important.

That said, my suggestions above still stand as the most effective method of keeping warm in a cold basement with force air system.

<-- Plumbing/Gas/HVAC

My mother lives in a Condo complex and all of them have two levels. The symptoms the OP described were present in every one of them and the problem was greatly alleviated in the manner I described above. I think it's curious that you did not quote my edit.

I have to laugh though at $80 a piece and the price of a thermostat being expensive.

You seem fixated on return air registers. How do you know there aren't any? I don't wish to argue with you and will bow to your wisdom on this.

My advice to the OP would to have the owner consult a local HVAC contractor. Be careful though, there are lot's of folks out there that think they know what they are doing but really don't.

 

[Newbian]

Maybe there is a mouse stuck in there....

Wait for it to pop out and to stop blocking the air.